Comparative study of mortality and morbidity in premature infants (birth weight, < 1,250 g) with candidemia or candidal meningitis

Clin Infect Dis. 1998 Sep;27(3):559-65. doi: 10.1086/514712.

Abstract

Little information is available on long-term neurodevelopment of premature neonates with invasive candidal infections. We retrospectively studied the outcomes for 25 premature neonates (birth weight, < 1,250 g) with candidemia or candidal meningitis (cases) and compared them with 25 neonates matched for birth weight (+/- 100 g) and gestational age (+/- 1 week) (controls). Durations of antibiotic therapy, artificial ventilation, invasive catheterizations, and hyperalimentation were longer for cases than for controls. Cases had a higher final grade of intraventricular hemorrhage than did controls (median: 3.0 vs. 2.5, respectively; P < .05). Forty-four percent (11 of 25) of cases and 16% (4 of 25) of controls died (P > .05), and 29% (4 of 14) of surviving cases and 14% (3 of 21) of controls were disabled (P > .05). More cases had combined mortality and neurodevelopmental disabilities than did controls (60% vs. 28%, respectively; P < .05). Use of invasive therapies should be minimized for premature neonates at risk for invasive candidal infection that is associated with adverse outcomes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Candida / isolation & purification
  • Candidiasis / complications
  • Candidiasis / drug therapy
  • Candidiasis / epidemiology*
  • Candidiasis / mortality
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Demography
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature*
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / drug therapy
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / mortality
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
  • Meningitis, Fungal / complications
  • Meningitis, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Meningitis, Fungal / epidemiology*
  • Meningitis, Fungal / mortality
  • Morbidity
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome