Fungal infections in bone marrow transplant patients.
OBJECTIVE
Invasive fungal infections have become the leading infectious cause of death in recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation. Several factors have led to a renaissance in the study of invasive fungal infections. The growing incidence of both commonly encountered as well as emerging pathogens and the lethality of these infections coupled with the unprecedented number of available broad-spectrum antifungal drugs has lent a renewed vigor and enthusiasm to attempts to understand the pathogenesis of these diseases and, by doing so, improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The following is a review of the primary research published from 2003 to the present that is pertinent to invasive fungal infection in the setting of hematopoietic cell transplantation.


RESULTS
The main themes of published primary research during 2003 to the present include the efficacy and tolerability of antifungal prophylaxis, epidemiologic analyses of risk factors following nonmyeloablative preparative regimens, and more-detailed analyses of nonmyeloid immune responses.


CONCLUSIONS
Although few definitive recommendations emerged from the studies during the review period, these investigations do contribute to a greater understanding of the immunobiology of invasive fungal infection and of the utility and limitations of newer antifungal agents in the prophylaxis or treatment of invasive fungal infection.
Brown
Janice M Y
JM
Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA. wesbrown@stanford.edu
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016469:Fungemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole