Infecciones por candida en neonatología

nosocomial fungal infections have significantly increased over the past 2 decades. candida species are recognized as leading nosocomial pathogens in neonatal intensive care unit. objective: to describe the clinical and microbiological profile of candida infections in a neonatal intensive care unit. method: retrospective case-control study in a period of 10 years (1994-2004), performed in all newborns admitted to our unit. each case was compared with 2 control neonates who did not have fungal infection. results: 14 cases of candida infections were identified. compared with match controls (n = 28), newborns with candida infections had significantly (p < 0,05) longer hospitalizations and duration of mechanical ventilation, use of parenteral nutrition and broad spectrum antibiotics, along with surgical interventions and mortality. in the group with fungal infections, 9 were term or near-term newborns, mean age at onset was 21 days and candida albicans was recovered from 8 of 14 cases. blood was the main source for positive cultures (8/14), fungal dissemination was rare and 28% died (4/14). conclusions: candida infections predominate in term and near-term newborns and candida no albicans have become common agents of nosocomial fungal infections in our unit. improvement of diagnosis and multiple organ evaluation are further required