Systemic fungal infections in south Indian infants.

Systemic fungal infections were identified in 13 of 1468 necropsies of infants dying in the 1st year of life in a south Indian hospital. Candidiasis was present in 11 infants, most often as pneumonia or enteritis. Spread to other organs occurred in four cases. Intestinal candidiasis was associated with zygomycosis of the intestine in one infant and with aspergillosis of the lungs and intestine in another. One case of aspergillosis of the myocardium and one of gastric zygomycosis were also diagnosed. Septicaemia, broad spectrum antibiotic therapy, surgery and congenital abnormalities, including immune deficiencies, were important predisposing factors.