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

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.