Comparative Study of Mortality and Morbidity in Premature Infants (Birth Weight, <1,250 g) with Candidemia or Candidal Meningitis

Little information is available on long-term neurodevelopment of premature neonates with invasive candidal infections. We retrospectively studied the outcomes for 25 premature neonates (birth weight, .05), and 29% (4 of 14) of surviving cases and 14% (3 of 21) of controls were disabled (P > .05). More cases had combined mortality and neurodevelopmental disabilities than did controls (60% vs. 28%, respectively; P < .05). Use of invasive therapies should be minimized for premature neonates at risk for invasive candidal infection that is associated with adverse outcomes.