Vol 3, No 3 (2012)
Review paper
Published online: 2012-10-11
Antifungal prophylaxis in patients with hematologic malignancies
Hematologia 2012;3(3):243-254.
Abstract
Invasive fungal infection (IFI) remains a major cause of illness and death in patients with
neutropenia due to chemotherapy, despite the availability of new antifungal agents. Considering
the morbidity and mortality of IFI, primary antifungal prophylaxis is commonly used treatment
strategy in high-risk patients, especially in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant
recipients and patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes who
undergo induction or reinduction chemotherapy. The article summarizes the international
guidelines on primary and secondary antifungal prophylaxis in patients with hematologic
malignancies.
neutropenia due to chemotherapy, despite the availability of new antifungal agents. Considering
the morbidity and mortality of IFI, primary antifungal prophylaxis is commonly used treatment
strategy in high-risk patients, especially in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant
recipients and patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes who
undergo induction or reinduction chemotherapy. The article summarizes the international
guidelines on primary and secondary antifungal prophylaxis in patients with hematologic
malignancies.
Keywords: antifungal prophylaxisprimary prophylaxissecondary prophylaxisinvasive fungal infectionrecommendations