Invasive candidiasis in infants weighing more than 2500 grams at birth admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.
BACKGROUND
Because invasive candidiasis in newborn infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) occurs most frequently in very low birth weight infants, the incidence of invasive candidiasis and its clinical features in infants > 2500 g birth weight have not been well-described.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all infants with birth weight > 2500 g admitted to our NICU from 1986 through 1993 who developed invasive candidiasis during their hospitalization.


RESULTS
Seventeen of 3033 (0.6%) infants with birth weights > 2500 g admitted to the NICU developed invasive candidiasis. All 17 infants had a condition that required prolonged NICU hospitalization; 13 of 17 (76%) had a major congenital malformation.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of invasive candidiasis in infants with birth weights > 2500 g requiring admission to a NICU was much less than has been reported for very low birth weight infants. This review points out that in infants with birth weights > 2500 g who develop invasive candidiasis, major congenital malformations are the most frequent underlying conditions responsible for prolonged NICU hospitalization.
Rabalais
G P
GP
Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine and Kosair Children's Hospital, KY 40292, USA.
Samiec
T D
TD
Bryant
K K
KK
Lewis
J J
JJ
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001724:Birth Weight; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole; D005437:Flucytosine