Abstract
Objective
To describe the risk factors, clinical presentation and laboratory findings associated with candida infection in neonates.
Methods
A retrospective review of the medical records of 45 isolates of candida species grown from blood culture samples in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at King Hussein Medical Center and Queen Alia Hospital during 24 months period from January 2007 to December 2008 was performed. Logistic regression was used to determine the significant risk factors among the study group.
Results
Out of 1776 admissions during the study period, 45 neonates were found to have positive blood culture for candida. All had received systemic broad spectrum antibiotics therapy. Thirty seven neonates (82%) were premature, 31 neonates (69%) had very low birth weight <1.5 kg. Twenty five neonates (56%) suffered from respiratory distress and 18 (40%) presented with picture of necrotizing enterocolitis. Twenty five neonates (56%) were anemic, 21 (47%) were thrombocytopenic, 14 (31%) had leukocytosis and 8 (18%) had leukopenia. Twenty seven neonates (60%) had positive urine culture for candida and 4 (8%) died.
Conclusion
Pediatricians should have a high index of clinical suspicion of candidal infection. Regular screening of the urine culture for candida in predisposed infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit may be helpful for early diagnosis and early treatment with antifungal drugs which will hopefully result in better outcome. (Rawal Med J 2011;36:41-44).

Key words: Candida, prematurity, respiratory distress.