Candidal infections in neonates of very low birth weight

Candida infections represent a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in sick low birth weight infants cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit. Often, the infection goes undiagnosed, or the candidal isolate is regarded as a contaminant. There is also fear of potential toxicity from treatment. We have reported a case in which recovery occurred without antifungal therapy, and reviewed the current literature regarding this potentially devastating infection.