Obstructive Bilateral Renal Fungal Bezoars in an Extremely Premature Neonate Treated With Antifungals and Urokinase Irrigation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Jan 1;44(1):64-68. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000004505. Epub 2024 Aug 7.

Abstract

Background: An ex-27-week gestation female infant developed bilateral forearm nodules at 4 weeks of life during treatment for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. A pure growth of Candida albicans was isolated on culture of both sterile aspiration of the forearm abscess and urine without evidence of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus . The patient went on to develop bilateral obstructive renal fungal bezoars at 11 weeks of life.

Results: Bilateral nephrostomies were required to alleviate obstruction with the addition of local irrigation with amphotericin B deoxycholate. Two weeks later, urokinase via the nephrostomy tubes was added due to an unchanged appearance on ultrasound (US) and ongoing candiduria. A significant reduction in the size of bezoars was seen on US after 3 days. Sterilization of urine culture was achieved 7 weeks into treatment, and resolution of bezoars on US was seen 9 weeks after treatment began. No adverse events occurred from the use of local urokinase.

Conclusions: Urokinase irrigation via nephrostomy is an effective and safe adjunctive treatment in refractory obstructive renal candidiasis in neonates.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Bezoars* / drug therapy
  • Bezoars* / surgery
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Candida albicans / isolation & purification
  • Candidiasis* / drug therapy
  • Deoxycholic Acid
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Extremely Premature
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Therapeutic Irrigation
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
  • Amphotericin B
  • Drug Combinations
  • amphotericin B, deoxycholate drug combination
  • Deoxycholic Acid