Use of antifungal agents in the intensive care unit

Invasive fungal infections in severely ill hospitalized patients are increasing prevalent. Intense efforts are focused on the development of novel antifungal agents as well as improvements in the safety profile of pre-existing agents. New antifungal agents currently in clinical trials include broad-spectrum triazoles and pneumocandin/echinocandin derivatives. In addition, lipid preparations of amphotericin B are being used with increasing frequency for severe invasive fungal infections in patients likely to be intolerant to amphotericin B deoxycholate. This article reviews the epidemiology and risk factors of nosocomial fungal infections, with emphasis on the patient populations in the intensive care unit, and summarizes data from some recent clinical trials involving newer antifungal agents for prophylaxis, empiric use, and treatment. Curr Opin Cardiol 1999, 14:368-375 © 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Duke Scholars

Author John Robert Perfect Medicine, Infectious Diseases