Pediatric antifungal utilization: new drugs, new trends.
BACKGROUND
The frequency and severity of invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients has increased steadily over the last 2 decades. In response to the increased incidence and high mortality rates, novel antifungal agents have been developed to expand the breadth and effectiveness of treatment options available to clinicians. Despite these therapeutic advances, the impact of the availability of new antifungal agents on pediatric practice is unknown.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Pediatric Health Information System database to describe the changes in pediatric antifungal therapy at 25 freestanding United States children's hospitals from 2000 to 2006. All pediatric inpatients who received a charge for one or more of the following agents were included in the analysis: conventional amphotericin B (AMB), lipid amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, flucytosine, caspofungin, and micafungin. Underlying conditions and fungal infection status were ascertained.


RESULTS
A total of 62,842 patients received antifungal therapy, with prescriptions significantly increasing during the 7-year study period (P = 0.03). The most commonly prescribed antifungal agent was fluconazole (76%), followed by amphotericin preparations (26%). Prescription of AMB steadily decreased from 2000 to 2006 (P = 0.02). Prescription of voriconazole steadily increased during the study period and replaced AMB for the treatment of aspergillosis. The echinocandins steadily increased in prescription for treatment of fungal infections, particularly in disseminated/systemic candidiasis.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the number of pediatric inpatients requiring antifungal therapy has increased significantly and the choice of treatment has changed dramatically with the introduction of newer antifungal agents.
Prasad
Priya A
PA
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infection Prevention and Control, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Coffin
Susan E
SE
Leckerman
Kateri H
KH
Walsh
Thomas J
TJ
Zaoutis
Theoklis E
TE
D000293:Adolescent; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007297:Inpatients; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
D000935:Antifungal Agents