Purpose: To determine the rate of ocular manifestations of systemic candidaemia in newborn infants. The study is based at the Royal Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care ward. This is classed as a level 6B unitIt has 40 cots with an average annual admission number of 850 infants. Method: Retrospective review from November 2016 to February 2021 of all ophthalmology referrals to screen for ocular candidiasis based on the presence, or suspected presence, of candida in blood, urine or endotracheal tubes. Results: Over a five year period, there were 39 individual referrals for an ophthalmological examination due to the presence of candida in blood (eight patients), urine (11 patients), cerebrospinal fluid (one patient), endotracheal tube (two patients) or clinical suspicion (17 patients). Some infants were re-referred at a later date with recurrent presence of candida. Some infants had their referral combined with their regular retinopathy of prematurity check. The median gestational age at birth of the infants was 28.85 weeks, the median birth weight was 1653.85 grams and the median chronological age at time of exam was 13 days. No ocular manifestations of systemic candida were identified in any infant. Conclusion: Ophthalmological screening in neonates for manifestations of candidiasis based on the presence or suspicion of candida in blood, urine and/or endotracheal tubes may be an unnecessary procedure for these fragile infants to endure.
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