INCIDENCE AND PATHOGENESIS OF NEONATAL CANDIDIASIS

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Abstract
Differences in the day of discharge, the size of the sample and methods of diagnosis largely account for the considerable variations in reports regarding the incidence of oral thrush at various institutions. Factors commonly listed as contributory to oral thrush, such as debility, prematurity, and so forth, were not found to be operative in the series of cases studied. Preceding antibiotic therapy did not raise the incidence of neonatal oral thrush. The lack of resistance of the newborn infant to Candida albicans infection of the mucous membranes appears to be due to intrinsic defects in immunity which are not as yet understood. Maternal vaginal candidiasis appears to be the primary source of neonatal candidiasis. The latter is most effectively prevented by adequate mycologic screening and therapy of the expectant mother. Infants infected at birth harbor Candida albicans for several days before they develop clinical evidence of oral or cutaneous candidiasis. In view of these findings a reevaluation of public health measures for the prevention and spread of oral thrush in nurseries appears desirable.

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