BACKGROUND
Fungi of the genus Malassezia are part of the human skin microbiome, however, the leading role of these fungi in the development of local and systemic mycoses has been shown. A special group is premature infants, among whom the most vulnerable category of patients in terms of the development of systemic fungal infections are children with very low and extremely low birth weight. Mycosis caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida and Malassezia is considered one of the most common fungal infections registered in newborns. The aim of this exploratory study was to study the dynamics of colonization of various biotopes by Malassezia fungi in newborns undergoing treatment in the neonatal departments of the Center.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study included 1139 newborns hospitalized at the V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, from whom 2257 samples of biological material were taken. For species identification of yeast fungi by molecular genetic methods, the MycosoScreen REAL-TIME PCR Detection Kit (DNA-Technology, Russia) was used, as well as a purpose-developed test system for species identification of Malassezia fungi.
RESULTS
We have shown Malassezia fungi to colonize most often the mucous environment of the gastrointestinal tract with maximum colonization by 3—5 weeks of life in newborns leaving the neonatal hospital. The most frequently detected species was M. furfur. Colonization of extremely premature infants (GA ≤28 weeks) with M. furfur contributed to the worsening of the severity of multiple organ failure in this category of newborns, which was reflected in an increase in the NEOMOD score of 7 or more points.
CONCLUSION
The conducted study demonstrated the feasibility of using molecular genetic research methods in daily clinical practice, which allow using minimally invasive techniques to track both the dynamics of the colonization process of the gastrointestinal mucosa and the occurrence of invasive mycoses, resulting in prompt targeted antimycotic therapy.
