S8.2a Trends in epidemiology of pediatric Candida infections

Abstract S8.2 What is new in pediatric mycology?, September 23, 2022, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM     Invasive Candida infections are a cause of increased morbidity and excessive mortality in immunocompromised and critically ill patients including premature neonates. In the pediatric setting, they are more frequent in the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU), in the pediatric ICU, and in the pediatric oncology/hematology departments. Its frequency in other pediatric departments, such as gastroenterology, surgery, and nephrology is less of a problem. Candida albicans remains the most frequent Candida species, whereas other non-albicans Candida spp. are less frequent. Candida parapsilosis is second in frequency, but in certain pediatric settings and countries, it may be first. While C. albicans is almost entirely susceptible to azoles, C. parapsilosis has started to manifest increasing resistance to fluconazole and this is of concern. However, due to improved infection control and prevention measures and to use of fluconazole prophylaxis in a number of neonatal ICUs, its incidence has been shown to decrease in a multi-state study conducted by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. Another large multinational study that was conducted in many European countries showed no changes in epidemiology over a number of years, and more non-albicans Candida, particularly C. parapsilosis, in South Europe. The epidemiology of Candida in pediatric ICU has been less studied. Similar epidemiology and risk factors exist in PICU as in neonates. Abdominal surgery and multi-site colonization with Candida of patients are risk factors for developing invasive Candida infections, mainly candidemia. In the patients with hematological malignancies, antifungal prophylaxis for mold infections is also active against Candida, therefore, the incidence of invasive candidiasis is relatively low. However, non-Candida albicans species with reduced susceptibility to azoles, such as C. glabrata, are found more frequently. In pediatric patients with solid organ transplantation, invasive candidiasis is the most frequent fungal infection, mainly in those with liver transplantation. Candida causes infection in the first weeks after transplantation earlier than other fungal infections.