Candidemia and its Risk Factors in Neonates and Children

Objectives: The present study was conducted to raise attention to the frequency of Candida spp. and evaluation of risk factors of candidemia in hospitalized neonates and children. Methods: Identification of Candida at species level was done using the PCR-RFLP method. The Candida albicans complex and Can-dida parapsilosis complex were di erentiated using the HWP1 gene amplification and PCR-RFLP with NlaIII restriction enzyme, re-spectively. Results: Out of 75 blood culture specimens, 42 (84%) cases were positive for Candida spp. of whom 30 (71.42%) and 12 (28.57%) cases were female and male, respectively. Thirty-two (76%) candidemia were presented in pediatrics with 6 years up to 12 years, 10 (23.80%) in neonates of one month or less. In the present study, Candida parapsilosis (n =25; 59.52%) was the most prevalent isolated species followed by C. albicans (n =11; 26.19%), C. tropicalis (n =4; 9.52%), and Candida glabrata (n =2; 4.76%). Conclusions: According to potentially dangerous complications of bloodstream infection by Candida spp. in neonates and chil-dren, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the underlying conditions and risk factors of this disease.