Does Prompt Antifungal Treatment Improve Outcomes in Tiny Neonates?

Among premature infants with invasive candidiasis, receipt of empirical antifungal therapy was associated with a lower rate of death or neurodevelopmental impairment.

Candida infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in extremely low birth weight neonates. Some investigators believe that blood culture — the standard method for identifying candidemia — is insensitive for diagnosing other forms of invasive candidiasis, and that in patients with suspected Candida infection, receipt of an effective antimicrobial regimen before culture results become available will improve outcome. Now, in a multicenter, retrospective study, researchers have examined whether empirical antifungal treatment reduced mortality and morbidity in extremely low birth weight infants with fungal infections.

Data were analyzed for 136 infants aged <120 days who received care at any of 17 Eunice Kennedy Shriver National…

Reviewing Author

Robert S. Baltimore, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsInfectious Diseases in Children

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesMember Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease

Robert S. Baltimore, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsInfectious Diseases in Children

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesMember Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease

Does Prompt Antifungal Treatment Improve Outcomes in Tiny Neonates?

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Reviewing Author