A Study Of Fungal Colonization In Newborn

<p class="Bodytext121">Research Problem: What are the factors responsible for fungal colonization in newborns?</p><p class="Bodytext121">Objective: To study the pattern of and predisposing fac­tors for the development of superficial candidiasis and fungal colonization in the newborns.</p><p class="Bodytext121">Study Design: Prospective study.</p><p class="Bodytext121">Setting: Neonatology unitof the Paediatrics department of a teaching hospital.</p><p class="Bodytext121">Participants: Randomly selected pregnant mothers admit­ted to the maternity ward and the newborns delivered to them.</p><p class="Bodytext121">Sample Size: 120 pregnant mothers and the newborns delivered.</p><p class="Bodytext121">Study Variables: Candida, Site of colonization.</p><p class="Bodytext121">Statistical Analysis: By tests of significance</p><p class="Bodytext121">Results: Candida was isolated from 23 (19.16%) infants on the first day increasing to 52 (43.33%) infants on the sixth day. The most common site of colonization was oral cavity. Candida colonization was more common in prema­ture infants (p&lt;0.05). Oral thrush was seen in 29 (24.17%) infants during the study and a significant number of these infants showed colonization from the first day of life.</p>Conclusions: Fungal colonization of the newborns due to Candida species is quite common, and in the first week of life predominantly occurred in the ora I cavity. Superficial clinical candidiasis, especially oral thrush is more common in those colonized on the first day of life