How to treat fungal infections in ICU patients.
Fungal infections represent a major burden in the critical care setting with increasing morbidity and mortality. Candidiasis is the leading cause of such infections, with C. albicans being the most common causative agent, followed by Aspergillosis and Mucormycosis. The diagnosis of such infections is cumbersome requiring increased clinical vigilance and extensive laboratory testing, including radiology, cultures, biopsies and other indirect methods. However, it is not uncommon for definitive evidence to be unavailable. Risk and host factors indicating the probability of infections may greatly help in the diagnostic approach. Timely and adequate intervention is important for their successful treatment. The available therapeutic armamentarium, although not very extensive, is effective with low resistance rates for the newer antifungal agents. However, timely and prudent use is necessary to maximize favorable outcomes.
Department of Critical Care, University Hospital ATTIKON, Medical School, University of Athens, 1 Rimini str, Haidari-Athens, 12462, Greece. d.matthaiou@gmail.com.
Dimitrios K
DK
Matthaiou
Department of Critical Care, University Hospital ATTIKON, Medical School, University of Athens, 1 Rimini str, Haidari-Athens, 12462, Greece. dorachristodoulopoulou@yahoo.gr.
Theodora
T
Christodoulopoulou
Department of Critical Care, University Hospital ATTIKON, Medical School, University of Athens, 1 Rimini str, Haidari-Athens, 12462, Greece. gdimop@med.uoa.gr.
George
G
Dimopoulos
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'
D000935:Antifungal Agents