[Neonatal candidiasis: therapeutic options]

Diverse factors (such as preterm babies with low body weight staying for long-term periods at intensive care units, subjected to invasive procedures, receiving one or more antibiotic schemes, parenteral nutrition, etc.) are considered to pose a risk for the development of infections by opportunistic agents. Of the latter, Candida albicans is considered the main cause of neonatal candidiasis. The most frequently involved Candida species are C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. The advent of new antimycotic agents has increased the therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of candidiasis. Antimycotic agents used for the treatment of neonatal candidiasis include: amphotericin B deoxycolate, lipid-associated compounds of amphotericin B, fluconazole and itraconazol, and caspofungin.