Fungal infections aspergillosis

Posaconazole, launched last year in the UK, is the newest member of the azole class of antifungal agents to reach the market. It is indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of a range of invasive fungal infections, including aspergillosis,... 

Lipid-based formuiations - For use in patients refractory to conventional amphotericin B deoxycholate therapy or where renal impairment or unacceptable toxicity precludes the use of the deoxycholate formulation for the treatment of invasive fungal infections (lipid complex) for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis (cholesteryl) for the treatment of infections caused by... 

Amphotericin B remains the drug of choice in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis, locally invasive mucormycosis, and many disseminated fungal infections occurring in immunocompromised hosts (the patient population most at risk for serious fungal infections). For example, the febrile neutropenic oncology patient with persistent fever despite empirical antibacterial therapy is best treated with amphotericin B for possible Candida spp. sepsis. 

Clinical Use. Voriconazole (Vfend) is similar chemically to other azole antifungals such as fluconazole. Voriconazole has a broad antifungal spectrum, and is administered systemically to treat aspergillosis and other serious fungal infections caused by Scedospo-rium apiospermum and Fusarium,31... 

Organisms other than the viruses discussed earlier can cause acute liver infections, such as Leptospira icterohaemorrhagia, which causes Weil s disease, fungal infections caused by Candida species or aspergillosis, and schistosomiasis caused by trematodes. A number of systemic infections may also affect the liver, leading to jaundice, abnormal liver function tests or even acute liver failure. Table 3.6 lists some of the infective organisms that have been associated with liver disease. 

Posaconazole is similar in structure to itraconazole. It was well tolerated and as effective as fluconazole 100 mg in two large randomized comparisons in HIV-infected patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. In a salvage study in patients with a variety of invasive fungal infections, there were response rates of 44-80% in patients with aspergillosis, fusariosis, cryptococcosis, candidiasis, and pheohyphomycoses after 4-8 weeks of therapy (1,2). 

Parenteral amphotericin B is indicated for the trcatmeot of severe, potentially life-threatening fungal infections, including dis.seminated forms of coccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis. sporotrichosis. North American blastomycosb, cryptococcosis, mucormycosis, and aspergillosis. 

Fungal infections, especially those caused by Candida and Aspergillus spp., are serious and often fatal comphcations associated with HSCT. Fungi remain a serious cause of infection, particularly in allogeneic HSCT recipients, for up to 1 to 2 years following transplantation and may occur in as many as 10% of patients. Mortality rates associated with invasive aspergillosis infections may be as high as 90% ... 

Systemic fungal infections are very serious and can be difficult to treat. Examples of fungal infections are candidiasis, aspergillosis and cryptococcus. In the immunocompromized, lung infections are common because fungi produce spores that can be inhaled, but... 

Caspofungin is indicated in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in patients refractory to, or intolerant of, other antifungal therapies empirical treatment for presumed fungal infections in febrile, neutropenic patients treatment of esophageal candidiasis treatment of candidemia and the following Candida infections intra-abdominal abscesses, peritonitis, and pleural space infections. 

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