[Role of anidulafungin in critically ill patients].
The most frequent invasive fungal infections in critically ill patients are invasive candidiasis, among which is candidemia. In the last few years, these infections have become more common in intensive care units (ICU), including those produced by species other than Candida albicans. This phenomenon may lead to the development of species resistant to antifungal agents. To start the most appropriate treatment, early diagnosis of the infection is essential, which would reduce empirical antibiotic treatment and increase the proportion of advanced or directed antibiotic therapy. Given the poor reliability of the available diagnostic techniques, new strategies are currently being employed in the ICU, such as the use of scores to evaluate the presence of fungal infections. The therapeutic arsenal against these infections has been increased and the introduction of anidulafungin represents the addition of a highly appropriate drug for the treatment of invasive candidiasis in immunocompetent critically ill patients.
Borges Sá
Márcio
M
Unidad de Cuidados Críticos, Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Son Llátzer, Palma, Islas Baleares, España. mborges@hsll.es
Garnacho Montero
José
J
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077612:Anidulafungin; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016469:Fungemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D017964:Itraconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole; D000077612:Anidulafungin