NEONATAL SYSTEMIC CANDIDIASIS IN QATIF-CENTRAL-HOSPITAL, QATIF, SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective: To document risk factors, morbidity and mortality associate d with neonatal systemic candidiasis. Setting: The neonatal intensive care unit and paediatric intensive care unit of Oatif Central Hospital . Subjects: Neonates with culture proven systemic candidiasis. Methods : This was a retrospective analysis of patients' records. Results: Thi rteen neonates consisting of 10 (5.1/1000) of the 1946 admissions into the neonatal intensive care unit and three outside admissions into th e paediatric intensive care unit had culture proven systemic candidias is. Major risk factors of systemic candidiasis were: prolonged usage o f broad spectrum antibiotics (100%), endotracheal intubation and mecha nical ventilation (92.3%), low birthweight (69.2%), umbilical vessel c annulation (61.5%), chest tube insertion (38.5%) and total parenteral nutrition (30.8%). Two of the very low birthweight infants died. Ampho tericin B toxicity was low. Conclusion: Neonatal systemic candidiasis may be a problem in Saudi Arabia like other countries where neonatal i ntensive care is being practised. It is associated with serious morbid ity and a high mortality rate in the very low birthweight infants and should be suspected in a seriously ill neonate with signs of sepsis bu t failure to respond to antibacterial antibiotic therapy.