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Published on: February 14, 2018

Antifungal treatment in pediatric patients

Theoklis E Zaoutis1, Daniel K Benjamin, William J Steinbach

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. zaoutis@email.chop.edu

Drug Resistance Updates : Reviews and Commentaries in Antimicrobial and Anticancer Chemotherapy
|August 2, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric invasive fungal infections are rising, yet treatment data for children is scarce. This review details current antifungal therapies, focusing on efficacy and safety in non-neonatal pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have increased in frequency and severity over the past two decades.
  • Immunocompromised patient populations are expanding, leading to more opportunistic infections.
  • Pediatric patients are increasingly susceptible to these serious fungal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of current antifungal therapy for pediatric patients.
  • To discuss antifungal classes, mechanisms of action, and resistance.
  • To review pharmacology, efficacy, and safety data in children outside the neonatal period.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of antifungal agents and pediatric treatment data.
  • Analysis of mechanisms of action and resistance patterns.
  • Evaluation of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties in pediatric populations.

Main Results:

  • Several new antifungal agents have emerged in the last decade.
  • There is a significant lack of comprehensive treatment data for IFIs in children.
  • Differences in drug disposition and response exist between pediatric and adult populations.

Conclusions:

  • Antifungal stewardship is crucial in managing pediatric IFIs.
  • Further research is needed to establish optimal treatment guidelines for children.
  • Tailoring antifungal strategies to pediatric-specific factors is essential for improved outcomes.

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