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Pertussis remains as one of the oldest leading vaccine-preventable diseases of childhood, despite many decades of primary vaccine doses' and boosters' implementation. Although the epidemiology is well understood in infants and children, premature babies and low-birth weight infants remain a special group where the disease incidence is unknown, severity of the disease is considerable, and specific vaccination recommendations are scarce. A retrospective review of the available evidence of pertussis vaccination in premature and low birth weight infants was analyzed from January 2000 to December 2022 in six selected countries: Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Panamá, Costa Rica, and Chile. Chile had reports of adverse effects associated with vaccination of premature infants with the pentavalent vaccine, and their rationale to switching to the hexavalent vaccine. Colombia had reports of the justification for the use of hexavalent vaccine in prematures in the Neonatal Units and Kangaroo Mother Programs throughout the country. Mexico had selected publications of the vaccination status in prematures and low-birth weight infants. Despite its importance, increased morbidity, and highest risk of complications in premature babies, there is a paucity of information of vaccine recommendations and coverage rates among selected Latin American infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Globally, Candida auris is an emerging pathogen that poses an essential threat in healthcare settings presenting as outbreaks requiring significant allocation of infection control interventions to curb transmission. This fungal pathogen was initially identified in 2009 in Japan, but it has spread to all continents. Candida auris poses significant diagnostic and treatment challenges. Conventional microbiology laboratories often misidentify this pathogen as Candida haemulonii or as other Candida spp. Rhodoturola glutinis, and even with some bacterial pathogens, including Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A. Furthermore, C. auris displays distinct mechanisms of antifungal resistance to azoles and amphotericin B formulations. Most of the case series and outbreak reports have included invasive infections in adult populations. Methods Herein, we present a cluster of neonatal infections caused by Candida auris at a large referral center in Colombia. Results We report a case series of 8 neonates and infant patients who were seen at a large referral center in Colombia and who develop invasive infections caused by C. haemulonii and C. auris. Discussion Our report highlights the diagnostic challenges in identifying this fungal pathogen correctly, its clinical spectrum of disease, recommendations for empiric antifungal therapy, and it is not always associated with a high case fatality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]