Malassezia furfur colonization of neonates in an intensive care unit

Abstract

We studied Malassezia furfur colonization of neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and found that the rate was astonishingly high as compared to the previous studies. In very low birth weight (less than 1,000 g) infants we recorded a colonization rate of 80%, and 4% infants with a birth weight greater than 2,000 g. Under 10 day's hospitalization the rate was 11%, and it was 70% after 20 days spent in the unit. Among the infants with the birth weight less than 1,700 g, antibiotic therapy was recorded as a significant risk factor for colonization. In the infants with a greater birth weight, the colonization rate was independent from the risk factors studied. M. furfur colonization could not be linked with occurrence of any symptoms of signs recorded and colonization by M. furfur was so common in NICU that the predictive value of surveillance cultures is poor.

Immunology of Diseases Associated withMalasseziaSpecies

“…The colonization rates recorded range from 37% (344) to 100% (247) in hospitalized neonates. Factors such as young gestational age (8,29,44,344), low birth weight (8,344), and extended periods of hospitalization (8,29,44,344) may predispose to colonisation in this group. To date, however, no systematic survey of colonization rates has been undertaken in healthy newborns, for whom the picture remains unclear.…”

Minireview:Malasseziainfections in immunocompromised patients

“…[52] reported that 28% of infants in an NICU were colonised in the first week of life, whereas 84% of older infants in the NICU were skin culture positive for M. furfur . These and other data indicate that colonisation in neonates and infants is associated with low gestational age, admission to the NICU and length of hospitalisation 68–71 …”

“…These and other data indicate that colonisation in neonates and infants is associated with low gestational age, admission to the NICU and length of hospitalisation. [68][69][70][71] Risk factors for invasive Malassezia infections in neonates and infants include prematurity, the presence of a central venous catheter, use of broad-spectrum antibacterial treatment, multiple underlying complications and prolonged parenteral nutrition with administration of parenteral lipids. 58,71 While invasive infections may occur sporadically, in the last decade, nosocomial outbreaks of neonatal M. furfur and M. pachydermatis infection have been widely reported.…”

The effects ofMalasseziaon pro-inflammatory cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cellsin vitro

“…Culeter-related sepsis both in immunocompromised inture purity was determined prior to and following batch dividuals and low-birth-weight neonates receiving preparations. In general, serovars A and B usually parenteral lipid alimentation [10][11][12].…”