Congenital candidiasis in a very low birth weight premature infant

Abstract

Systemic candidiasis has become an important cause of nosocomial infections in very low birth weight infants (VLBW). In this vulnerable population candidal infection may be disseminated, be congenital or related to intravenous lines. Congenital candidiasis is a rare disorder acquired in utero. In this report we describe a VLBW infant (24 weeks of gestational age and birth weight of 630gm) with congenital candidiasis, and discuss the risk factors, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and the outcome of this condition based on a review of reported cases in the literature.