title: Invasive candidiasis and oral manifestations in premature newborns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate prevalence of invasive candidiasis in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and to evaluate oral diseases and Candida spp. colonization in low birth weight preterm newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive epidemiological study performed in two stages. First, prevalence of candidiasis was analyzed in a database of 295 preterm patients admitted to hospital for over 10 days and birth weight less than 2,000g. In the second stage, oral changes and Candida spp. colonization were assessed in 65 patients weighing less than 2,000g, up to 4 week-old, hospitalized for over 10 days and presenting oral abnormalities compatible with fungal lesions. Swab samples were collected in the mouth to identify fungi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of candidiasis was 5.4% in the database analyzed. It correlated with prolonged hospital length of stay (p<0.001), in average, 31 days, and 85% risk of developing infection in the first 25 days. It correlated with low birth weight (p<0.001), with mean of 1,140g. The most frequent alterations were white soft plaques, detachable, in oral mucosa and tongue. Intense oral colonization by Candida spp was observed (80%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of invasive candidiasis was low and correlated with low birth weight and prolonged hospital stay. The most common oral changes were white plaques compatible with pseudomembranous candidiasis and colonization by Candida spp. was above average.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Endrigo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tinoco-Araujo
authors.forename: Diana Ferreira Gadelha
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Patrícia Gomes
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Paulo Sérgio da Silva
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Ana Myriam Costa de
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002175:Candida / Q000254:growth & development*; D058365:Candidiasis, Invasive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors