Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Automation of Bio-Atomic Force Microscope Measurements on Hundreds of C. albicans Cells
09:27

Automation of Bio-Atomic Force Microscope Measurements on Hundreds of C. albicans Cells

Published on: April 2, 2021

Micafungin use in children

Melike Emiroglu1

  • 1Konya Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 42040 Konya, Turkey. mkeser17@gmail.com

Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy
|September 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Micafungin, an echinocandin antifungal, shows promise for treating invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in immunocompromised children. While effective against Candida and Aspergillus, further trials are needed to establish optimal dosing and widespread use.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Mycology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a significant cause of illness and death in immunocompromised children.
  • Candida and Aspergillus species are the most common culprits behind IFIs.
  • Early diagnosis and prompt antifungal treatment are critical for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of micafungin, an echinocandin antifungal, in managing IFIs in pediatric patients.
  • To discuss the efficacy, dosing, safety, and drug interactions of micafungin in children.
  • To highlight the need for further research to establish optimal use in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on micafungin's use in pediatric invasive fungal infections.
  • Analysis of micafungin's mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic profile, and clinical trial data.
  • Examination of safety and tolerability data, including adverse effects and drug interactions.

Main Results:

  • Micafungin targets β-1,3-D-glucan synthesis, exhibiting fungicidal activity against Candida and fungistatic activity against Aspergillus.
  • Recommended pediatric dosages are established for invasive candidiasis and prophylaxis, though optimal dosing requires further study.
  • Micafungin demonstrates a favorable safety profile with manageable adverse effects, including gastrointestinal issues and laboratory abnormalities.

Conclusions:

  • Micafungin is a promising agent for the prophylactic and therapeutic management of IFIs in immunocompromised children.
  • Its distinct mechanism of action offers an alternative to traditional antifungals.
  • Larger prospective and comparative trials are necessary to fully define micafungin's role and optimize its use in pediatric IFIs.

More Related Videos

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds08:54

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

Published on: February 14, 2018

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...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
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...
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,...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...