Longitudinal Survey of Microbiota in Hospitalized Preterm Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine the changes in bacteria in hospitalized preterm infants during the first month of life.

Methods: Rectal swabs were collected daily from 12 preterm infants. DNA was extracted from swabs from day of birth and weekly thereafter.

Efficacy of fluconazole prophylaxis for prevention of invasive fungal infection in extremely low birth weight infants.

Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are an important cause of late-onset disease in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Despite prior trials of fluconazole prophylaxis in neonates, application of this regimen remains controversial. Review of our neonatal intensive care unit aggregate annual number of fungal isolates from sterile sites in ELBW infants from 1997 to 2006 suggested a significant decrease following the institution of routine prophylactic fluconazole in February 2002.