title: Diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections in patients with hematologic malignancies.
abstract: A diagnosis of deep-seated mycosis was made in 54 patients with hematologic malignancies, severe neutropenia and fever, based on a set of clinical and laboratory criteria. Standardized antifungal treatment was started in 31 patients who seven days after onset of fever had not responded to antibiotics; the fungal infection was cured in 13, all of whom had a simultaneous remission of neutropenia, whereas the other 18 who did not respond to antifungal treatment, all had a falling or static neutrophil count. None of the 23 patients who were given no or inadequate antifungal treatment survived regardless of the neutrophil count and/or phase of the hematologic disease. We discuss the suitability of utilizing empirical criteria for a diagnosis of disseminated fungal infection as a basis for starting antifungal therapy in this type of patient.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000666:Amphotericin B; D005437:Flucytosine