Purpose: We evaluated epidemiological and clinical features of candidemia in neonates and children.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of hospitalized neonates and children with positive blood cultures for Candida species from September 1, 2000 through August 31, 2006.
Results: Among 39 total neonates and children with candidemia, the median age was 4 months (interquartile range, 1-28) and overall mortality was 33%. Candida species included: Candida albicans (56%), Candida parapsilosis (23%) and Candida glabrata (15%). There was a tendency of proportional increase of candidemia due to non-albicans species (13% in 2001 vs 91% in 2006; P = 0.01). Compared with children older than 1 month of age, the proportion of C. parapsilosis was significantly higher in neonates with candidemia (58% vs 7%; P = 0.001). C. albicans was isolated more commonly from those who had undergone surgical intervention before candidemia (55% vs 18%; P < 0.05). C. parapsilosis was isolated more commonly from premature neonates (78% vs 27%; P = 0.015). C. glabrata was isolated more commonly from those who had neutropenia before candidemia (67% vs 12%; P = 0.011).
Conclusions: Candidemia by C. albicans was more commonly in surgical patients; by C. parapsilosis in premature neonates; by C. glabrata in neutropenic patients.