Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds
08:54

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds

Published on: February 14, 2018

Antifungal prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy

Claudio Viscoli1

  • 1University of Genova, San Martino University Hospital, Infectious Disease Unit, Genoa, Italy. viscolic@unige.it

Drugs
|November 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Antifungal prophylaxis with triazoles may reduce Candida infections in high-risk surgical and intensive care unit (ICU) patients. A proactive, pre-emptive approach to treatment appears safe and effective for preventing invasive fungal infections.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Fungal infections are increasingly recognized as a significant cause of illness and death in hospitalized patients.
  • High mortality rates associated with fungal infections necessitate preventative strategies, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antifungal chemoprophylaxis in high-risk surgical patients.
  • To determine the role of triazoles in preventing invasive candidiasis in intensive care unit (ICU) settings.

Main Methods:

  • Review of available evidence on antifungal prophylaxis in surgical and ICU patients.
  • Analysis of studies comparing triazoles (fluconazole, itraconazole) with placebo for Candida prevention.

Main Results:

  • Triazoles demonstrated a reduction in Candida colonization and potentially infection compared to placebo in specific high-risk patient groups.
  • Evidence primarily comes from studies involving patients with tertiary peritonitis requiring multiple surgeries.

Conclusions:

  • Antifungal prophylaxis with triazoles should be cautiously applied, reserved for high-risk patients susceptible to invasive candidiasis, such as those in surgical ICUs.
  • A pre-emptive treatment strategy, initiating antifungals before confirmed infection, shows promise for safety and effectiveness.

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Antiprotozoal Agents01:21

Antiprotozoal Agents

Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors01:22

Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

Antiviral Nucleoside InhibitorsAntiviral nucleoside inhibitors are structural analogs of natural nucleosides that interfere with viral DNA or RNA synthesis. These compounds selectively target viral polymerases due to their resemblance to host nucleosides, thereby disrupting viral genome replication.Mechanism of Acyclovir ActionAcyclovir is a guanosine analog with a three-carbon acyclic side chain. It selectively targets herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2),...
Anthelminthic Agents01:15

Anthelminthic Agents

Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...