J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1993 Oct;22(10):1153-1158.

Candida Albicans Shunt Infection: Case Report

• Lee JY
• Wang KC
• Lee HJ
• Chi JG
• Cho BK

Abstract

Two patients of shunt infection caused by Candida albicans are presented. They were low birth weight premature babies with prolonged antibiotic therapy for the neonatal pneumonia. They were diagnosed as posthemorrhagic and congenital hydrocephalus and underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt(VPS). Postoperatively fever and setting sun eyes developed and anterior fontanel became tense and bulging within two months after VPS. One patient was documented as C. albicans shunt infection by facteriological study and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and the other patient by bacteriological study only. The authors controlled the C. albicans shunt infection by removal of shunt device and intravenous Amphotericin B. In C. albicans shunt infection, it is important to remove the infected shunt device immediately after the diagnosis and bacteriological study is diagnostic, but SEM plays a role in the demonstration of the fungal elements in the shunt device.

Keyword

Shunt infection; Candida albicans; Scanning electron microscopy

MeSH Terms

Amphotericin B
Candida albicans*
Candida*
Cranial Fontanelles
Diagnosis
Fever
Humans
Hydrocephalus
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Pneumonia
Solar System
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
Amphotericin B