title: Role of Echinocandins in Fungal Biofilm-Related Disease: Vascular Catheter-Related Infections, Immunomodulation, and Mucosal Surfaces.
abstract: Biofilm-related infections have become an increasingly important clinical problem. Many of these infections occur in patients with multiple comorbidities or with impaired immunity. Echinocandins (caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin) exert their fungicidal activity by inhibition of the synthesis of the (1→3)-β-d-glucan. They are active among in vitro and in vivo model systems against a number of Candida species and filamentous fungi in their planktonic and biofilm phenotype. Their superior activity against biofilms poses them in an advantageous position among the antifungal armamentarium. However, additional studies are warranted to expand our knowledge on the role of echinocandins against biofilm-related infections.
authors.affiliation: Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Aspasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katragkou
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Third Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roilides
authors.affiliation: Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University, New York, New York Department of Pediatrics Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000077612:Anidulafungin; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000382:microbiology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D000077612:Anidulafungin
keywords: anidulafungin; biofilm; caspofungin; echinocandin; micafungin