173 Fungal Colonization of Newborn in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Study

Background. Invasive candidiasis in neonates has become an increasing problem over the past decade in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in the world; it is a relatively common cause of late onset sepsis associated with a high mortality. Risk factors are preterm babies who require invasive diagnostic and aggressive therapeutic procedures, prior antibiotic therapy, congenital abnormalities, gastrointestinal tract diseases, necrotizing enterocolitis and anatomical abnormalities requiring surgery. Prior colonization is the major risk factor for candidemia.Methods. To determine the rate of colonization, risk factors and the possible modes of acquisition of Candida spp. In neonates in NICU, we conducted a prospective cohort study including 48 successive admissions at NICU of Pediatric University Hospital, Sarajevo, during 3 months. Samples (mucocutaneous swabs, urine, stool, blood) were obtained weekly until the time of discharge or death (one infant enrolled in the study exited). Care health worker hands were cultured weekly (55 samples).Results. Candida spp. from various body sites samples were isolated in 7 patients (rate of colonization 14,8%) while 7 samples of health workers hands were positive for C. spp (14,5%). Patients colonizated or infected by Candida spp. In our study were or very preterm newborns (3/7) or compromised term newborns (4/7), with congenital abnormalities (2/7) or gastrointestinal surgical interventions (2/7). Two very preterm neonates were colonized early from the birth, which indicates possible vertical transmission. In other 5 patients, colonization occurred more lately, after at least 15 days stay in NICU, which indicates nosocomial transmission as a predominant mode of acquisition. Among 10 positive patterns from different body sites, Candida albicans was isolated in 6 cases; other 4 cases were C. glabrata (2/10), C. krusei (1/10) and C. famata (1/10).Conclusions. Rather than focusing on methods of identifying of pregnant women with vaginal Candida colonization, attention should be directed to high risk neonates and infection control measures including hands washing by health care workers.