Abstract: A 17-minute-old male neonate presented with widespread skin lesions marked by pale red rashes，tachypnea, and mildly reduced mental responsiveness at birth. He was initially diagnosed with neonatal pneumonia and neonatal toxic erythema, but antibiotic therapy failed, and a leukemoid reaction emerged during treatment. Candida albicans was detected through smear and culture of secretions from the skin lesions, confirming a final diagnosis of congenital cutaneous candidiasis. The neonate responded well to antifungal therapy, including fluconazole and triamcinolone acetonide econazole. Because the clinical features of congenital cutaneous candidiasis are nonspecific, misdiagnosis is common. Clinicians should consider this condition in neonates unresponsive to antibiotics and conduct appropriate etiological investigations.

Key words: congenital cutaneous candidiasis, leukemoid reaction, neonate, Candida albicans