[Meningitis caused by Candida in a premature infant]

Abstract

A case of Candida meningitis in a premature infant treated with amphotericin B IV for 41 days, resulted in negative CSF cultures after 5 days of therapy. Amphotericin B was also given intraventricularly for 21 days; purulent meningitis was a complication from this kind of therapy. Psychometric evaluation showed a mental age of 3 months in a chronological age of 7 months. Only one premature infant has been reported in the literature with intraventricular amphotericin B treatment. A review of Candida meningitis diagnosed before death in infants less than 1 year of age and a discussion of the modern therapy is presented.