title: [Colonization by Candida in a neonatal intensive care unit].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candida infections have increased in the last few decades. Previous colonization is the most important risk factor for the development of fungemia. Understanding local epidemiology is necessary in order to select the optimal anti-fungal treatment. The purpose of this study was to establish colonization by Candida in patients, staff and medical devices in a neonatal intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was conducted. Cultures were obtained from different anatomic sites, from medical devices and from the hands of healthcare staff at admission and every 7 days until discharge of the unit. Identification and susceptibility tests to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 98 patients, 24 % were already colonized at admission, 15 % became colonized during their stay at the hospital. Out of 738 samples obtained from devices, 2 % were positive. Out of 89 cultures obtained from hands, 55 % were positive. A total of 124 Candida strains were retrieved; Candida parapsilosis was the most common species (59 %), followed by Candida albicans (26 %). Resistance to itraconazole was only found in 13 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colonization in neonatal intensive care-admitted patients was 40 %, and it was a common event in the hands of the healthcare staff. Candida parapsilosis was the predominant species. Resistance was found only to itraconazole.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Vigilancia Epidemiológica, Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia "Doctor Ignacio Morones Prieto", Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. guadalupe.miranda@terra.com.mx.
authors.forename: Amilcar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caballero-Trejo
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Aguirre-Morales
authors.forename: Gloria M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: González-González
authors.forename: Dzoara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cortés-Palma
authors.forename: María Guadalupe
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Miranda-Novales
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Candida; Infant newborn; Intensive care