Invasive Fungal Infection in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipient from an Indian Oncology Setting

Area of Science:

• Hematology and Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Transplant Medicine

Background:

• Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
• Limited data exists regarding the incidence and outcomes of IFI in the Indian subcontinent following HSCT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence, identify risk factors, and analyze outcomes of IFI in HSCT recipients at an Indian oncology center.
• To contribute to the understanding of IFI epidemiology in a specific, underrepresented geographical region.

Main Methods:

• A single-center retrospective observational study included adult patients who underwent HSCT between 2014 and 2018.
• IFI cases were defined using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) consensus criteria (2008).
• Statistical analysis involved descriptive statistics and comparative tests (chi-squared or Fisher's exact test) for categorical variables.

Main Results:

• A total of 126 patients underwent HSCT (56 allo-HSCT, 64 auto-HSCT, 6 haplo-HSCT).
• The overall incidence of IFI was low, with 5 cases (7.81%) in auto-HSCT and 5 cases (8.92%) in allo-HSCT; no IFI cases were observed in haplo-HSCT.
• The 1-year survival rate among patients with IFI was 80% (8/10 cases).

Conclusions:

• The incidence of IFI in HSCT patients at this Indian center was notably low compared to global reports.
• The study was limited in its ability to meaningfully compare risk factors and prophylactic regimens due to the low number of IFI cases.
• Further research with larger cohorts is needed to elucidate specific risk factors and optimize antifungal strategies in this population.