The incidence of Candida albicans in the last day of pregnancy and the first days of the new born

Abstract

103 pregnant women, at the onset of labor, and their newborn infants, up to the forth neonatal day, were investigated for the presence of Candida albicans in their vaginal discharge stool and oral exudate. Direct microscopic examination showed the presence of pseudomycelium and budding cells in only 7 of the respective mothers (2 in vagina, 4 in the mouth and one in the stool). Culture of the vaginal discharge yielded a significant number of C. albicans colonies in 2 women, a noticeable growth in 3 and a less significant in 9. Only 17% of the mouth specimens showed a considerable quantity of the same fungus and in 7 C. albicans was detected in significant amounts in stool specimens. In the newborns C. albicans, found only by culture, was present in a small numbers (14), starting from the first neonatal day. It was found primarily in the mouth. The data obtained showed a lower incidence, than expected, of C. albicans in the vagina of pregnant women, a few hours before delivery. This suggests transmission of the organism to the newborn earlier than generally accepted.