ORIGINAL STUDIES Caspofungin Therapy of Neonates With

Background: Invasive candidiasis is an increasing problem in neonatal intensive care units worldwide and is an important cause of morbidity, mortality and prolongation of hospital stay. Despite administration of amphotericin B, invasive candidiasis in neonates is sometimes complicated by persistent fungemia and refractory inva-sive candidiasis. The problem has been augmented by the increasing prevalence of non-albicans species that often are resistant to flucon-azole and to amphotericin B. Population and Methods: The population consisted of 1 term and 9 premature neonates with invasive candidiasis caused by Candida albicans (n 4), Candida parapsilosis (n 3), Candida tropicalis (n 2) and Candida glabrata (n 1). Despite initial therapy with deoxycholate amphotericin B, blood cultures remained positive in all patients for 13–49 days. Invasive candidiasis progressed to meningitis and enlarging renal Candida bezoars in the kidney of on