Vol 4, No 1 (2008)
Review paper
Published online: 2008-02-28
Diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections in oncohematology
DOI: 10.5603/ocp.v4i1.9313
Onkol. Prak. Klin 2008;4(1):15-24.
Abstract
The incidence of systemic fungal infections has increased during the past years. The risk for fungal
infection and mortality rate due to infection is highest among immunocompromised patients. The most
common pathogens remain Candida and Aspergillus. An increase in the incidence of infections due to
resistant and new pathogens has been observed. The diagnostic recommendations for invasive mycoses
include clinical examination, imaging methods and laboratory tests. Therapeutic options in immunocompromised
patients include prophylaxis, pre-emptive and empiric treatment and therapy of established
fungal infection. This approach should based on patient risk-group stratification, diagnostic techniques
to identify very early stage of infection and toxicity of antifungal drugs. The “gold standard”
in treatment of invasive fungal infections was amphotericin B. New antifungal agents with similar or higher
efficacy and lower toxicity have been introduced. These are lipid formulations of amphotericin B, new
azoles, and echinocandines.
Keywords: fungal infectionsethiologypathogenesisdiagnosistreatment