Neonatal candidiasis associated with meningitis and endophthalmitis

Abstract

From January 1991 to March 1993, a total of 11 infants with positive blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or stool cultures of Candida albicans were found in the nursery or neonatal intensive care unit of the Chung Shan Medical and Dental College Hospital. Clinical features including respiratory deterioration, poor activity, abdominal distension and/or apnea were noted. Indwelling peripheral venous catheters had been used in all patients to provide parenteral nutrition and broad spectrum antibiotic therapy and six infants had received intravenous fat emulsions. Prolonged endotracheal intubation with mechanical ventilation had been used in eight infants. Six infants (54.5%) had meningitis, five infants (45.5%) had endophthalmitis, and two infants (18.2%) had arthritis. All 11 infants received intravenous amphotericin B therapy, and the concurrent oral administration of 5-fluorocytosine was used in the six infants with meningitis. Three infants died later. Since meningitis was recognized in 54.5% patients and endophthalmitis was recognized in 45.5% patients with systemic candidiasis, the author recommends that culture and analysis of CSF along with indirect ophthalmoscopy should be performed on all infants suspected of having systemic candidiasis.