When to Expect Fungal Infection in Neonates: A Clinical Comparison of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis Fungemia With Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Batceremia.

NEONATAL diseases; CANDIDA albicans; NEONATAL intensive care

ABSTRACT. Objectives. To determine the epidemiology of candidemia in our neonatal intensive care unit; to compare risk factors, clinical presentation, and outcomes for neonates infected with Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS); and to suggest a rational approach to empiric antifungal therapy of neonates at risk for nosocomial infection. Design. Retrospective chart review of all neonatal intensive care unit patients with systemic candidiasis or CoNS infection between January 1, 1995 and July 31, 1998 at Duke University Medical Center. Results. Fifty-one patients were reviewed. Nine of 19 patients infected with C parapsilosis and 5 of 15 patients infected with C albicans died of fungemia. Seventeen neonates had >2 positive cultures for CoNS obtained within 96 hours and 1 died. There was no statistically significant difference in birth weight, gestational age, or age at diagnosis between patient groups; however, candidemic patients had a sevenfold higher mortality rate. Before diagnosis, candidemic patients had greater exposure to systemic steroids, antibiotics, and catecholamine infusions. Of the 51 patients, 32 received third-generation cephalosporins in the 2 weeks before diagnosis and 19 did not. Twenty-nine of the 32 who were treated with third-generation cephalosporins subsequently developed candidemia, while candidemia occurred in only 5 of 19 patients who were not treated with cephalosporins. At the time of diagnosis, candidemic patients were more likely to have required mechanical ventilation and were less likely to be tolerating enteral feeding. Multivariate clustered logistic regression analysis revealed that candidemic patients had more exposure to third-generation cephalosporins. Once the clinician was notified of a positive blood culture for Candida, patients infected with C parapsilosis retained their central catheters longer than patients infected with C albicans. Conclusions. In this retrospectiv... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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