Invasive candidiasis in children in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland

Summary

Invasive candida infections affect a diverse range of children with different underlying medical conditions and have a high morbidity and mortality. The frequency and characteristics of these infections in children in the UK is poorly described.

How are we doing it?

This study is a British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) adopted study and fulfils the following eligibility criteria:

• Invasive candidiasis in children is rare (less than 300 anticipated cases per year); all cases are seen by paediatricians
• there is a clear case definition
• study data is easily accessible from clinical notes
• cases may occur in any paediatric centre across the UK making it ideal to be adopted as a BPSU study

Following BPSU scientific committee and ethical approvals, paediatric invasive candidiasis will be included on the monthly BPSU ‘orange’ e-card emailed to all paediatricians in the UK and Ireland for a 13-month period. Data triangulation will be gathered with data provided from both the UKHSA fungal division and the UKHSA Mycology Reference Laboratory.

What happens next?

Stage 1 of the application has been completed, and stage 2 is now underway including development of the questionnaire. Ethics approval will be submitted following stage 2 approval.

Funding

NIHR Exeter BRC Small project grant

Collaborators

British Paediatric Surveillance Unit