OUTBREAK OF SYSTEMIC ASPERGILLOSIS IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT

Small pre-term neonates are susceptible to cutaneous aspergillosis bec ause of their immature immune system and because of the vulnerability of their skin. In addition, the common therapy with broad-spectrum ant ibiotic drugs and corticoids creates a favourable milieu for fungal su perinfections. We present four pre-term neonates who succumbed to cuta neous aspergillosis that subsequently developed into a systemic infect ion. The source of the infection proved to be contaminated latex finge r stalls. Three of the four patients died. The poor prognosis for syst emic aspergillosis can only be improved by an early therapy with ampho tericin B, possibly in liposomal form.