Outbreak of fungemia caused by Candida parapsilosis in a neonatal intensive care unit: molecular investigation through microsatellite analysis.

Background: Opportunistic infections are an increasingly common problem in hospitals, and the yeast Candida parapsilosis has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) where it has been responsible for outbreak cases. Risk factors for C. parapsilosis infection in neonates include prematurity, very low birth weight, prolonged hospitalization, indwelling central venous catheters, hyperalimentation, intravenous fatty emulsions and broad spectrum antibiotic therapy.

Candida isolated from vaginal mucosa of mothers and oral mucosa of neonates: occurrence and biotypes concordance.

Background: The common occurrence of Candida spp. on the vaginal mucosa of pregnant women suggests this as the source of neonatal candidiasis.

Methods: This study investigated the occurrence of yeasts on the vaginal mucosa of 100 mothers at the time of birth, and on the oral mucosa of their respective neonates, all full-term, on the 1st, 3rd, and 9th days after birth by vaginal (72 cases) and cesarean (28 cases) routes.