The Role of Candida Surveillance Cultures for Identification of a Preterm Subpopulation at Highest Risk for Invasive Fungal Infection

Candida surveillance cultures were obtained from 51 neonatal intensive care unit patients. Sixteen infants showing positive cultures developed subsequent Candida infection, whereas it did not occur for the 35 infants with negative cultures. Fifteen of 16 infants (<1000 g) had <27 weeks of gestational age. Antifungal treatment was started at the time colonization was detected; only 1 infant died of Candida infection.