title: Reduction of systemic fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies, neutropenia, and prolonged fever by early amphotericin B therapy.
abstract: A rate on autopsy of up to 30% systemic fungal infections and difficulties in diagnosing systemic mycosis antemortem have led to the empiric use of amphotericin B in patients with hematological malignancies, prolonged fever, and neutropenia. Routine empiric antifungal treatment was initiated in our institution in 1982. Amphotericin B was given to granulocytopenic patients with hematological malignancies with (a) unremitting fever after 48-72 h of antibiotic treatment, (b) recurrent fever during antibiotic treatment, or (c) with newly detected pulmonary infiltrates, sinusitis, skin and retinal lesions suggestive of a fungal infection. With this approach the rate of systemic fungal infections decreased significantly from 10% (27 of 270 patients; 1973-1981) to 4% (6 of 153 patients; 1982-1986, P less than 0.02). The reduction of systemic fungal infections was most prominent in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, where its proportion decreased from 16% (16 of 98 patients; 1973-1981) to 4% (2 of 50 patients; 1982-1986, P less than 0.023). Our data support the hypothesis that the incidence of systemic fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies and especially in acute myelogenous leukemia can be reduced significantly by empirical treatment with amphotericin B.
authors.affiliation: Departement für Innere Medizin, Universitätsspital Zürich, Schweiz.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Zimmermann-Hösli
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stahel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oelz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000150:complications*; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications*; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000188:drug therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000666:Amphotericin B