A premature neonate, requiring prolonged hospitalization, intensive care, multiple surgeries, and broad-spectrum antibiotics, developed a systemic fungal infection. Initial blood cultures were negative, but subsequent cultures and advanced molecular identification using MALDI-TOF MS and ITS sequencing confirmed Candida berthetii. The infant presented with symptoms consistent with sepsis, highlighting the diagnostic challenges of rare fungal pathogens in vulnerable populations. This case represents the first reported human systemic infection by C. berthetii, emphasizing the need for advanced diagnostics in immunocompromised patients with suspected candidemia. The patient's complex medical history likely contributed to susceptibility to this opportunistic pathogen.
Key note: Candida berthetii can cause systemic infection in preterm infants with complex medical histories, necessitating advanced diagnostic methods.