Candidaemia in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at Beni-Suef Governorate

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

1 Medical Microbiology and Immunology department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni -Suef University, Egypt

2 Pediatric department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Egypt

3 Pediatrics department, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a cause of mortality among neonates. Fungal infections are important hospital-acquired pathogens in neonates and infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Most neonatal fungal infections are due to Candida species, particularly Candida albicans.  The sources of candidiasis in NICU are often endogenous following colonization with fungi. About 10% of these babies get colonized in the first week of life and up to 64% babies get colonized by 4 weeks of hospital stay. Objectives: To assess the frequency of fungal infections in neonates attending (NICU) in Beni-Suef Governorate. Also, to correlate their presence with different risk factors. Methodology: A total of 52 neonates admitted to NICU in Beni suef Governorate. Blood culture both aerobically and anaerobically were done. Subcultures on blood agar, chocolate agar, MacConkey's agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar and bile esculin azide agar daily for 7 days before reporting blood cultures as negative. Candida spp. on SDA was identified by standard laboratory methods such microscopic and Gram stain identification, chla-mydospore formation on cornmeal agar, and Germ tube test to differentiate Candida albicans from other Candida species. Results: fungal infections were significantly assosciated with maternal candidiasis (P=0.003), higher level of CRP (P=0.023) and  with respiratory distressand jaundiced cases (P = 0.001, 0,001) respectively. There were insignificant differences regarding type of antibiotics given to neonates and fluconazole use as a prophylaxis in NICUs. There was a higher resistance to fluconazole and high susceptibility to amphotericin B. Conclusion: Mechanical ventilation has been associated with an increased risk, so continuous good hygiene measures and possibly antifungal prophylaxis in selected high-risk neonates is needed. Candida spp. may be resistant to azoles.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics