Candida infections in paediatrics: Results from a prospective single-centre study in a tertiary care children's hospital.
To describe the epidemiology of invasive Candida infection in a tertiary care paediatric hospital. Prospective single-centre survey on all Candida strains isolated from normally sterile fluids and urines in the period 2005-2015 . A total of 299 ICI were documented in 262 patients. Urinary tract infection represented the most frequent diagnosis (62%), followed by fungaemia (34%) and peritonitis (4%). Fungaemia was most frequent in children with cancer (59%) or in low birth weight neonates (61%), while urinary tract infections were more frequent in patients with urinary tract malformation. C.albicans was the most frequently isolated species (60%) compared with C. non-albicans, but differences were present according to the site of isolation and underlying conditions. Overall 90-day mortality was 7%, 13% in fungaemias, 8% in peritonitis and 2% in urinary tract infections. The rates of invasive Candida infection increased during the study period. Invasive Candida infection is diagnosed with increasing frequency in children. Site of isolation and aetiology are frequently related with the presence of underlying, favouring conditions. Mortality was not negligible, especially in the presence of more invasive infections and specific underlying conditions.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Alessio
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0593-4112
A
Mesini
Laboratory of Analysis, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Roberto
R
Bandettini
Infectious Diseases Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Ilaria
I
Caviglia
Hematology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Francesca
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1504-5511
F
Fioredda
Oncology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Loredana
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1950-4754
L
Amoroso
Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Maura
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5715-501X
M
Faraci
Pediatric Surgery, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Girolamo
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4355-1446
G
Mattioli
Nephrology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Giorgio
G
Piaggio
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Francesco M
FM
Risso
Neonatal and Pediatric ICU, Critical Care and Perinatal Medicine, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Andrea
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7839-317X
A
Moscatelli
Infectious Diseases Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Anna
A
Loy
Infectious Diseases Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Elio
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5336-8429
E
Castagnola
D000293:Adolescent; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D058365:Candidiasis, Invasive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality
D000935:Antifungal Agents

Candida
; invasive fungal disease; paediatrics; prospective single-centre study; urinary tract infection