Background: Candidal endophthalmitis may make premature infants more susceptible to threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and candidemia may be independently associated with threshold ROP in infants with birth weights < 1,000 g (Pediatr Res 1997; 41: 165A). However, both candidemia and threshold ROP may be significantly associated with extreme prematurity< 25 wk.

Objective: To determine whether candidemia is a risk factor for threshold ROP independent of extreme prematurity. Methods: Computerized databases for demographics, retinopathy of prematurity, and candidemia were used. A retrospective cohort study was conducted of infants admitted to the NICU between 1/93 and 6/97 with birth weights < 750 g who lived > 60 d in order to compare risk of threshold ROP in infants who had candidemia to those who had not. Threshold ROP, which is ROP requiring ablative therapy within 72 h of diagnosis, was defined by the criteria of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Ophthalmology ROP subcommittee(Pediatrics 1997; 100: 273). Infants with chromosomal abnormalities, congenital infections, or major malformations were excluded.

Log in or create a free account to read this content

Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com

Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account
Continue with Google
Continue with ORCiD