Cutaneous congenital candidiasis in a full-term newborn from an asymptomatic mother.

A male infant of 2,900 g was born at term to a 19-year-old primigravida woman who had adequate prenatal care and no major complications detected during the pregnancy. The only reported medical event was an episode of urinary tract infection by E. coli one month before delivering, which resolved without complications using nitrofurantoin. There was no history of maternal herpes simplex infection and her serologic screening was negative for syphilis.

[Congenital cutaneous candidiasis: a case report and review]. / La candidose cutanée congenitale: a propos d'une observation et revue de la littérature.

The aim of this article is to report a case of congenital cutaneous candidiasis (CCC). We describe the clinical features and emphasize the role of laboratory testings to assess diagnosis in the newborn and to prevent this condition by screening vaginal candidiasis in pregnant women. A full-term, 3500-g male was born by spontaneous vaginal delivery to a 30-year-old healthy woman. On physical examination, he was a well-developed, vigorous newborn. Since the first hours of his life he presented erythematous maculae diffusely distributed on the skin and pustules overlying areas of confluent macular erythema on his trunk and extremities. The palms and soles were not affected. Neither oral thrush nor peri-anal lesions have been observed. The rest of the physical examination was normal. Microscopic examination of skin scrapings showed the presence of many yeasts and the culture permitted the identification of a strain of Candida albicans. Precocity and extent of the cutaneous signs attest a congenital cutaneous candidiasis and eliminate the other skin diseases of similar clinical symptoms. Topical antifungal therapy (econazole) was given and the cutaneous lesions disappeared after 20 days. CCC appears to be acquired in utero by the ascension of organisms from an infected vagina into the uterine cavity. This condition is preventable with systematic screening and treatment of vulvo-vaginitis due to Candida albicans in pregnant women, The important role played by the laboratory of mycology remains essential.

[Congenital cutaneous candidiasis: report of two cases].

Congenital cutaneous candidiasis is a very rare disease. We reported two newborn infants in whom generalized skin eruption was noted at birth, characteristics of erythematous papules and pustules. The eruption involved head, face, neck, trunk and extremities. Candida albicans was demonstrated on direct KOH smear, by surface fungal cultures and skin biopsy. The disease implies a congenital intrauterine infection and is different from neonatal candidiasis which manifests as thrush, diaper dermatitis. The route of infection is ascending in congenital cutaneous candidiasis. The skin eruption is usually noted at birth or within 12 hours after delivery as a diffuse erythematous maculopapula, with pustules or vesicles distributed over head, face, neck, trunk and extremities. There is no fever; other constitutional signs are lacking. No evidence of impaired immunological responsiveness has been noted in previous study. Clinical features, direct smear examination of specimen and appropriate cultures are useful in differentiating the lesions from other more common dermatoses of the neonatal period. Topical antifungal therapy is sufficient unless systemic candidiasis is present. Prognosis for congenital cutaneous candidiasis is good.