Abstract

Background : Neonatal candidemia is rapidly becoming one of the commonest causes of sepsis in NICUs. The speciation of Candida and the identification of the associated risk factors is pertinent for prevention and proper treatment of patients as most of the fluconazole resistant strains recovered from clinical specimens, particularly blood, are NAC species. Material and Methods: The study was an observational study carried out on 4235 blood samples were collected from neonates admitted to the NICUs of SMGSH Jammu over a period of 1year w.e.f. 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2024. Results: A total of 90/4235 (2.12%) of the neonatal blood samples tested positive for candidemia. Candida tropicalis (63.3%) was the commonest Candida species isolated followed by Candida glabrata (23.3%), Candida albicans (5.6%), Candida parapsilosis (4.4%) and Candida krusei (3.3%). Prior antibiotic usage (100%), IV cannulation (100%), preterm birth (74.4%), LBW (75.6%), male gender (68.9%), mechanical ventilation (35.6%), NVD (54.4%) and maternal risk factors (58.9%) were the associated risk factors. Conclusion: The present study is in concordance with the increasing worldwide trend of isolation of NAC species from the blood of neonates.

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