title: Introduction to the updated Australian and New Zealand consensus guidelines for the use of antifungal agents in the haematology/oncology setting, 2014.
abstract: This article introduces the second revision of the Australian and New Zealand consensus guidelines for the use of antifungal agents in the haematology/oncology setting. The current update occurs within the context of a growing population at risk of invasive fungal disease, improved understanding of risk factors, availability of new diagnostic tests, a much-expanded evidence base and changing clinical paradigms. Here, we provide an overview of the history and purpose of the guidelines, including changes in scope since the last clinical update was published in 2008. The process for development, and for enabling review of draft recommendations by end-users and other relevant stakeholders, is described. The approach to assigning levels of evidence and grades of recommendation is also provided, along with a comparison to international grading systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria; Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Parkville, Victoria; School of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Slavin
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Thursky
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Worth
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Morrissey
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Blyth
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szer
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D016638:Critical Illness; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
keywords: Aspergillus; Candida; Pneumocystis jirovecii; antifungal therapy; invasive fungal disease; mould