Antifungal therapies in the intensive care unit

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Published on: February 14, 2018

Ranjan Chowdhry1, William L Marshall

  • 1Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA.

Journal of Intensive Care Medicine
|May 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Fungal infections are rising, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). New antifungal agents and targeted prophylaxis strategies offer improved treatment options for these serious infections.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Rising incidence of fungal infections nationwide, particularly among immunosuppressed individuals.
  • Intensive care unit (ICU) fungal infections often linked to iatrogenic factors like catheters and broad-spectrum antibiotics.
  • Delays in diagnosis and treatment can negatively impact patient outcomes in ICUs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review clinical syndromes requiring specialized treatment in ICUs.
  • To discuss current guidelines for antifungal prophylaxis, including fluconazole use in select ICU patients.
  • To highlight new antifungal agents for treating resistant fungal strains.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on fungal infections in intensive care units.
  • Analysis of clinical syndromes and treatment strategies.
  • Evaluation of antifungal prophylaxis guidelines and new therapeutic agents.

Main Results:

  • Recognition of specific ICU fungal syndromes can improve patient care.
  • Antifungal prophylaxis, such as fluconazole, is recommended only for select ICU patients due to resistance concerns.
  • Newer antifungal agents offer improved safety and efficacy profiles for treating resistant fungi.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of ICU fungal infections requires recognizing specific syndromes and optimizing therapy.
  • Careful consideration of antifungal resistance is crucial when implementing prophylaxis strategies.
  • Advances in antifungal medications provide safer and more effective treatment options for critically ill patients.

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