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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
08:54
Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds
Published on: February 14, 2018
New antifungal agents in pediatric practice.
S Das1, M R Shivaprakash, A Chakrabarti
1Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Weil Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
Indian Pediatrics
|April 7, 2009
Summary
New antifungal drugs offer improved treatment for invasive fungal infections in children. This review highlights new triazoles and echinocandins, crucial for managing pediatric mycoses in immunocompromised patients.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Increasing incidence of invasive fungal infections in pediatric patients with compromised immune systems (e.g., those with AIDS, malignancies, or on immunosuppressive therapies).
- Growing clinical need for novel antifungal agents with broader spectrums and improved safety profiles for children and neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key features of new antifungal agents and novel therapeutic targets for fungal infections.
- To specifically address the application and efficacy of these agents in treating pediatric fungal infections.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on antifungal agents and their use in pediatric populations.
- Analysis of clinical data and pharmacological profiles of new antifungal drugs.
Main Results:
- Newer triazoles (e.g., voriconazole, posaconazole) demonstrate broad-spectrum activity, with voriconazole as a primary choice for invasive aspergillosis and posaconazole as an alternative for zygomycosis.
- Echinocandins offer a novel mechanism targeting fungal cell wall synthesis, proving effective against candidemia and invasive candidiasis.
Conclusions:
- Emerging antifungal agents provide valuable options for serious pediatric fungal infections.
- Some newer agents require further evaluation and await regulatory approval (e.g., FDA) for widespread pediatric use.
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