What is New in Antifungal Therapy

Dan Corneci
Clinica ATI, Spitalul Clinic de Urgenţă Militar Central, Bucureşti

Abstract

The incidence of candidemia is high in the intensive care units with particular problems of treatment for non-albicans species. Only three parenteral antifungal agents are available in our country (fluconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin), but the real problem is represented by identification of germs and invasivity of disease. Empirical therapy often represents the main strategy because of laboratory limits. In this case the patient’s clinical status, the presence of risk factors, the role of colonisation and general and local epidemiology are important keys in therapeutical strategies. The question about the use of a fungicide or fungistatic agent has only theoretical answers and “the cross-resistance” for azoles is controversial. Finally, the relation costs-benefit is still to be solved by hospital managers.
Keywords: invasive candidiasis, antifungal therapy, fluconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin

ACTUALITĂŢI ÎN TERAPIA ANTIFUNGICĂ

Jurnalul Român de Anestezie Terapie intensivă 2007, Vol.14, Nr.2, 111-118