title: Revised definitions of invasive fungal disease from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) Consensus Group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Invasive fungal diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Clarity and uniformity in defining these infections are important factors in improving the quality of clinical studies. A standard set of definitions strengthens the consistency and reproducibility of such studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  After the introduction of the original European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) Consensus Group definitions, advances in diagnostic technology and the recognition of areas in need of improvement led to a revision of this document. The revision process started with a meeting of participants in 2003, to decide on the process and to draft the proposal. This was followed by several rounds of consultation until a final draft was approved in 2005. This was made available for 6 months to allow public comment, and then the manuscript was prepared and approved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The revised definitions retain the original classifications of "proven," "probable," and "possible" invasive fungal disease, but the definition of "probable" has been expanded, whereas the scope of the category "possible" has been diminished. The category of proven invasive fungal disease can apply to any patient, regardless of whether the patient is immunocompromised, whereas the probable and possible categories are proposed for immunocompromised patients only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These revised definitions of invasive fungal disease are intended to advance clinical and epidemiological research and may serve as a useful model for defining other infections in high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion Service and Transplant Immunology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ben
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authors.lastname: De Pauw
authors.forename: Thomas J
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authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: J Peter
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authors.forename: David A
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authors.forename: Carol A
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authors.forename: Georg
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authors.lastname: Maschmeyer
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authors.lastname: Bille
authors.forename: William E
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authors.forename: Raoul
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authors.lastname: Herbrecht
authors.forename: William W
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authors.lastname: Hope
authors.forename: Christopher C
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authors.forename: Bart Jan
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authors.lastname: Kullberg
authors.forename: Kieren A
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authors.lastname: Marr
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authors.lastname: Muñoz
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authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Odds
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Perfect
authors.forename: Angela
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authors.lastname: Restrepo
authors.forename: Markus
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authors.lastname: Ruhnke
authors.forename: Brahm H
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authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Jack D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sobel
authors.forename: Tania C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sorrell
authors.forename: Claudio
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authors.lastname: Viscoli
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
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authors.forename: Theoklis
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authors.lastname: Zaoutis
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authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009626:Terminology as Topic