Cluster of Candida parapsilosis primary bloodstream infection in a neonatal intensive care unit

candida parapsilosis is an increasingly important bloodstream pathogen in neonatal intensive care units (nicu). we investigated a cluster of bloodstream infections in a nicu to determine whether nosocomial transmission occurred. during a 3-day period, 3 premature infants hospitalized in the same unit presented with sepsis caused by c. parapsilosis. electrophoretic karyotype of the organisms was performed by using pulsed field gel electrophoresis in a countour-clamped homogeneous electric field system. the isolate from 1 newborn could not be typed, and the isolates from the remaining 2 infants had identical patterns. all 3 cases are described. we conclude that nosocomial transmission of c. parapsilosis occurred and that neonates under intensive care may represent a risk group for this pathogen.