Unexpected diagnosis of Candida albicans meningitis in a premature neonate

Candida albicans meningitis was found in an otherwise healthy 44-day-old premature infant whose birth weight was 1,860 gm. Almost no abnormal clinical or neurologic findings were present. The electroencephalogram, however, was abnormal. All previous body fluid cultures were negative. The combined use of amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine resulted in negative cerebrospinal fluid cultures after 3 weeks of therapy. Physical and psychomotor development remained normal on subsequent examination.