Nystatin for Candida prophylaxis

[JACK]

How many of our colleagues use nystatin in preterms for Candida Prophylaxis?

What has been your success rate?

What has been your experience?

What is your protocol? When do you start? What dose? Frequency? Continue till when?

[Stefan Johansson]

We consider prophylaxis in infants born at <28 weeks with central catheters, as long as the catheter is still there (such as a percutaneous long-line or umbilical catheter), the infant is in full intensive care (i.e. not completely stable, not yet extubated etc), if antibiotics are given for many days. We use flucaonazol, we use the dose of 3 mg/kg iv, and the interval depends on the gestational age, every 72 hours (postnatal day 0-14) or every 48 hours (if postnatal day >14)

[ruannph]

we use nystatin prophylaxis too in the ELBWI as long as the central lines are in situ. We did a study and noted that this did reduce our incidence of candida in the unit. However, as impt as this are other factors like TPN use, Early feeds, antibiotics etc that need to be checked to avoid the problem.