Pattern of Candidiasis in the Newborn: A Study from Kuwait

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the rate and pattern of Candida infection in a large neonatal unit in Kuwait. Methods: A prospective study of all newborn infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Maternity Hospital in Kuwait during the year of 1997 and who were suspected of having Candida infection were collected and analyzed. Method of selection of neonates, laboratory parameters and possible risk factors of the infection were identified and defined. Results:Candida infection was recognized in 22 (8.4%) cases out of 263 total infants admitted to the NICU. All the proven cases originated from 168 infants of birth weight less than 2,000 g with an incidence of 13%. In addition, Candida infection was suspected and treated without positive culture in 15 infants (5.7%). Cases with proven Candida sepsis had longer mean duration of endotracheal intubation (p < 0.03) and total parenteral nutrition (p < 0.03) and more episodes of concomitant bacterial infection (p < 0.01) compared to infants with suspected candidiasis. Conclusion: For an early diagnosis of candidiasis, a high index of suspicion in septic low-birth weight infants is always warranted since the clinical and laboratory diagnostic parameters are difficult to differentiate between suspected and proven cases.

Neonatal candidaemia in Kuwait: a 12‐year study of risk factors, species spectrum and antifungal susceptibility

“…Candida parapsilosis has become the predominant fungal pathogen in many NICUs 11,13,16,17 . There have been only scanty reports on the occurrence of Candida infections in paediatric population from Kuwait 14,18 . This study reports prevalence of candidaemia in NICU of a Maternity hospital of Kuwait during a 12‐year period (1995–2006).…”

“…11,13,16,17 There have been only scanty reports on the occurrence of Candida infections in paediatric population from Kuwait. 14,18 This study reports prevalence of candidaemia in NICU of a Maternity hospital of Kuwait during a 12-year period (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006). Information on demographic characteristics, risk factors, causative Candida species, antifungal susceptibility and therapeutic outcome is presented and discussed.…”

Pattern of Resistant Candida Infection: Case Series

“…Most of the previous reports stressed on the elimination of the risk factors to prevent and control of the existing Candida infection in the very and extremely low birth weight babies [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][12][13][14][15]. In our cases, these measures were introduced appropriately, but still the infection persisted and cleared only after adopting strategy of minimal handling and invasive intervention, which was only achievable in the quite special care baby unit and away from the neonatal intensive care, and in this context the present report is noteworthy.…”

“…Among the risk factors identified in these studies were longer duration of endotracheal intubation and total parenteral nutrition and more episodes of concomitant bacterial infection [6,7]. Here, we report a series of six cases who had persistent Candida infection in spite of adequate antifungal coverage.…”

“…Our rate of Candida infection ranged from 4 to 8.4% according to two studies done in the unit [6,7]. Among the risk factors identified in these studies were longer duration of endotracheal intubation and total parenteral nutrition and more episodes of concomitant bacterial infection [6,7].…”