Prophylactic miconazole oral gel for the prevention of neonatal fungal rectal colonization and systemic infection.

Abstract

Prior rectal colonization with fungi may be an important risk factor for development of systemic fungal infection in the neonate. This placebo-controlled study evaluated the benefits of miconazole oral gel in the prevention of fungal rectal colonization and systemic infection in high risk neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Repeated oral application of miconazole gel reduced the overall prevalence of postnatally acquired rectal colonization; a yeast was grown in 19.5% of the weekly rectal swabs in the miconazole-treated group compared with 36.2% in the control group (69 of 354 vs. 146 of 403, P < 0.0001). There was no reduction in the incidence of systemic fungal infection in the two groups although the overall incidence of the infection was low in both groups, at 2.0% vs. 2.6% (6 of 298 vs. 8 of 302, P not significant). No relationship was shown between prior rectal colonization and subsequent systemic fungal infections in either of the two groups. This study does not support the use of prophylactic miconazole oral gel for the prevention of neonatal systemic fungal infections.

• Authors: S Wainer, P A Cooper, E Funk, R Y Bental, D A Sandler, J Patel
• Journal: The Pediatric infectious disease journal (Pediatr Infect Dis J) Vol. 11 Issue 9 Pg. 713-6 (Sep 1992) ISSN: 0891-3668 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1448310 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Gels
• Miconazole

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Double-Blind Method
• Gels
• Humans
• Infant, Low Birth Weight
• Infant, Newborn
• Miconazole (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Mycoses (prevention & control)
• Prospective Studies
• Rectal Diseases (microbiology, prevention & control)