The Journal of hospital infection
-
Clinical Trial
Selective decontamination with nystatin for control of a Candida outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit.
Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) with oral nystatin was evaluated as a measure to control an outbreak of Candida infection in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Seventy-six out of 106 neonates who carried Candida spp. received the main study manoeuvre (the application of oral nystatin in the throat and stomach) during the 12-month open trial. One third of the neonates weighed < 1500 g whilst about half were being ventilated. ⋯ The observation that all other clinical diagnostic samples were free from Candida suggests that translocation from throat or gut into the systemic circulation occurred. SDD with oral nystatin was effective in reducing the yeast carriage index (mean index 1.93, before SDD; 0.45, after SDD; P < 0.001). A significant reduction of carriage, both in rates and indices, is thought to have contributed to the control of this candida outbreak.