[Preventive antimycotic therapy of neutropenic and immunosuppressed patients]

Fungal infections are of increasing importance in severely neutropenic and immunosuppressed patients because of their high incidence and their high mortality once systemic dissemination has occurred. Various prophylactic strategies have been developed that include environmental measures as well as topical and systemic antimycotic prophylaxis. In this review the causative pathogens and patients at risk for developing fungal infections will be identified. Specific strategies will be discussed for each patient population and suggestions made for areas of future research.