Cluster of Candida parapsilosis primary bloodstream infection in a neonatal intensive care unit.
Candida parapsilosis is an increasingly important bloodstream pathogen in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). We investigated a cluster of bloodstream infections in a NICU to determine whether nosocomial transmission occurred. During a 3-day period, 3 premature infants hospitalized in the same unit presented with sepsis caused by C. parapsilosis. Electrophoretic karyotype of the organisms was performed by using pulsed field gel electrophoresis in a countour-clamped homogeneous electric field system. The isolate from 1 newborn could not be typed, and the isolates from the remaining 2 infants had identical patterns. All 3 cases are described. We conclude that nosocomial transmission of C. parapsilosis occurred and that neonates under intensive care may represent a risk group for this pathogen.
da Silva
C L
CL
Disciplina de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Depto. de Medicina Preventiva, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
dos Santos
R M
RM
Colombo
A L
AL
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000209:etiology; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D016469:Fungemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007621:Karyotyping; D012307:Risk Factors
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B