Association of candidemia and retinopathy of prematurity in very low birthweight infants Article uri icon

abstract

  • Objective: To determine if the presence of candidemia in infants is associated with an increased incidence of threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Design: Retrospective, case-controlled study. Participants and Controls: Forty-six infants admitted to the Texas Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between 1989 and 1999 with a birth weight 1500 g or less, estimated gestational age (EGA) 28 weeks or less, and in whom candidemia developed were matched to a control group of 46 infants based on corresponding birth weight, EGA, and year of birth. Methods: Records of each infant were reviewed to determine the presence and severity of ROP. Main Outcome Measures: Development of threshold ROP, including retinal detachment. Results: Forty-three infants (93.5%25) with candidemia and 39 (84.8%25) without candidemia had ROP. Twentyfour infants (52.2%25) with candidemia reached threshold and required surgical intervention, compared with 11 infants (23.9%25) without candidemia (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.4; 95%25 confidence interval [Cl], 1.7-32.1; P = 0.008). Retinal detachment developed in 10 of 24 candidemic infants (41.7%25) who reached threshold ROP, compared with 2 of 11 infants (18.2%25) without candidemia (OR, 4.4; 95%25 Cl, 0.73-26.9; P = 0.1). Conclusions: Candidemia is associated with increased risk of threshold ROP. Infants with Candida sepsis should be monitored closely for the development of ROP and progression after treatment. © 2002 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

publication date

  • 2002-01-01