[Clinical mycology and antifungals in the pediatric population]

Infections caused by Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. account for 90% of all fungal infections and are the most significant causes of human morbidity and mortality. Candida albicans causes between 50 and 60% of all nosocomial fungal infections. The wet mount test and culture are the screening methods used in leading clinical laboratories for the detection of Candida spp. However, yeasts should be strictly classified mainly based on their physiological and biochemical characteristics, through a series of morphological and biochemical laboratory tests. As a result of the increase in systemic fungal infections and the spread of antifungal medications, it was necessary to establish standardized in vitro sensitivity tests as a guideline for the therapeutic decision-making process. Among antifungal agents available today we find antimycotics such as amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), fluconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and ravuconazole. Additionally, there is the recently developed group of echinocandines, which includes caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungine.