Candida Krusei in Neonatal Septicemia an Emerging Entity: a Prospective Study in Tertiary Care Hospital of Kashmir Valley

Abstract

Background
Fungal infections are the emerging threat to the neonates in the hospitals taking over to bacteria. Candida infections are major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts such as neonates. Most neonatal fungal infections are due to Candida species. This study was done with objectives to identify the predominant organisms causing septicemia in neonates and their pattern in Kashmir Valley.
Methods
A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology GMC Srinagar in Neonates in the age group ranging from one day to four weeks admitted in the associated hospitals of the institution and suspected blood borne infections have been studied in the laboratory and blood culture samples were incubated in BacTAlert 3D (Biomerieux, India®) machine-driven blood culture system test)
Results
1090 sample were collected from neonates admitted in the NICU. The isolation rate was 868 (79.6%) and among them positive cultures 570 (65.6%) were Candida Krusei. 101 (11.6%) candida albicans, 30 (3.4%) Acinetobacter baumani and other bacterial growth was seen in 167 (19.2%)
Conclusions
There is emerging trend of multi-drug-resistant organisms isolation from septicemic neonates. Nonalbicans Candida particularly Candida krusei has emerged as an important cause of neonatal septicemia. Routine susceptibility testing of Candida isolates by DD method should be confirmed by BMD-MIC method