title: Value of antifungal prophylaxis with antifungal drugs against oropharyngeal candidiasis in cancer patients.
abstract: This report focuses on the value of antifungal prophylaxis with antifungal drugs in preventing oropharyngeal candidiasis. Randomised trials comparing non-AIDS immunocompromised patients receiving or not an oral antifungal agent were reviewed. Colonisation of the throat with Candida albicans is a risk factor, principally when cultures for this species of yeasts remain positive after initiation of the prophylaxis. The results of the trials were meta-analysed and we obtained a combined odds ratio for developing oropharyngeal candidiasis of 0.15 when under antifungal prophylaxis (confidence interval at 95%:0.10-0.22, chi 2 statistic of 90.77, P < 0.0001). We conclude that there is a strong beneficial effect of antifungal prophylaxis against the occurrence of oropharyngeal candidiasis. However, up to now, no study has correctly assessed the value of nystatin as a prophylactic agent against oropharyngeal candidiasis.
authors.affiliation: Institut J. Bordet, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paesmans
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Autier
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents