Invasive candidiasis in infants: experience from Saudi Arabia

There are few reports about invasive candidiasis in infants in the tropics in general and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular. Two Saudi infants with invasive candidiasis are reported and their clinical features and response to treatment are compared with that found in the paediatric literature, mainly from the developed world. Prematurity, low birthweight, invasive procedures, long hospital stay and prolonged use of broad-spectrum antibiotics were found to be predisposing factors in the two patients, and we believe that a lack of awareness of these by the referring physicians led to a delay in diagnosis. The need for greater awareness and vigilance, and the dangers inherent in overlooking isolates of candida from clinical materials are emphasized.