Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

08:46
A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
Published on: August 12, 2020
Systemic fungal infections in neonates
1Department of Pediatrics, BJ Wadia Hospital for Children, Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai, India. c_sudha@hotmail.com
Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
|March 8, 2006
Summary
Systemic fungal infections, primarily Candida, are a major threat to newborns. A new Indian liposomal Amphotericin B (L-Amp-LRC-1) shows promise as a safer, effective, and affordable treatment for neonatal candidiasis.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Neonatal infections, both bacterial and fungal, are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in newborns.
- Candida species, particularly Candida albicans, are the most common cause of fungal infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).
- Fungal colonization is common in NICU infants, increasing the risk of disseminated candidiasis affecting multiple organs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel Indian liposomal Amphotericin B formulation (L-Amp-LRC-1) for treating systemic fungal infections in neonates.
- To compare the therapeutic profile of L-Amp-LRC-1 with existing Amphotericin B formulations.
Main Methods:
- A clinical trial was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of L-Amp-LRC-1 in neonatal fungal infections.
- Laboratory confirmation of fungemia was based on organism recovery from blood or sterile bodily fluids.
Main Results:
- The Indian liposomal Amphotericin B (L-Amp-LRC-1) demonstrated a good response with reduced toxicity in neonatal fungal infections.
- The trial confirmed L-Amp-LRC-1 to be safe and efficacious in this vulnerable population.
- L-Amp-LRC-1 was found to be effective at a lower dose and is less expensive than other liposomal preparations.
Conclusions:
- L-Amp-LRC-1 represents a promising, cost-effective therapeutic option for neonatal candidiasis.
- This new formulation offers a potentially safer alternative to conventional Amphotericin B, with reduced risks of nephrotoxicity and hypokalemia.
Related Concept Videos
Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Antifungal Agents
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction
Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Development of Immunocompetence
The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...