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An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
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An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Published on: July 1, 2020

Current therapeutic approaches to fungal infections in immunocompromised hematological patients

Livio Pagano1, Morena Caira, Caterina Giovanna Valentini

  • 1Istituto di Ematologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, Rome, Italy. lpagano@rm.unicatt.it

Blood Reviews
|January 9, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Invasive fungal infections pose serious risks for patients with blood cancers. New antifungal drugs have significantly improved treatment outcomes and survival rates for these high-risk individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a major cause of illness and death in patients with hematological malignancies.
  • Patients with acute myeloid leukemia and those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation face particularly high risks.
  • Commonly isolated fungi include Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp., with Zygomycetes and other rare molds/yeasts also implicated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • This review focuses on the therapeutic strategies for managing fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies.
  • To provide an overview of recent advancements in antifungal therapy for this vulnerable patient population.

Main Methods:

  • This is a review article, synthesizing information from existing literature.
  • Focus is on therapeutic aspects, evaluating the impact of new antifungal agents.

Main Results:

  • Several new systemic antifungal agents approved since 2001, including liposomal amphotericin B, voriconazole, caspofungin, and posaconazole, represent significant therapeutic advances.
  • These agents have demonstrably improved the prognosis for patients with hematological malignancies facing fungal infections.

Conclusions:

  • The advent of novel systemic antifungal agents has revolutionized the management of IFIs in hematological patients.
  • Continued research and therapeutic vigilance are crucial for improving outcomes in this high-risk group.

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