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Fetal Candida sepsis at midgestation: a case report
C M Engelhart1, N M van de Vijver, S J Nienhuis
1University Hospital Maastricht, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Netherlands.
Summary
A pregnant patient experienced intrauterine fetal death due to Candida albicans sepsis. This severe fungal infection occurred despite the absence of typical risk factors, highlighting a rare but serious complication of Candida vaginitis during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Candida albicans is a common cause of vaginitis in pregnant individuals.
- Fetal sepsis is a rare but severe complication of maternal infections during pregnancy.
- Known risk factors for invasive Candida infections in pregnancy include prolonged rupture of membranes, intrauterine devices, and cervical cerclage.
Observation:
- A patient presented with intrauterine fetal death at 21 weeks gestation.
- The patient had a history of treated Candida vaginitis at 18 weeks gestation.
- No other known risk factors for invasive fungal infection were present.
Findings:
- The intrauterine fetal death was attributed to fatal fetal Candida sepsis.
- Candida albicans was identified as the causative agent of the fetal sepsis.
- This case demonstrates that fetal Candida sepsis can occur without traditional risk factors.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of the potential for severe fetal complications from Candida infections, even in the absence of typical risk factors.
- Early diagnosis and management of Candida vaginitis in pregnancy may be crucial to prevent adverse fetal outcomes.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and identify potential novel risk factors for fetal Candida sepsis.