{"title":"Duration of antifungal treatment in mold infection: when is enough?","authors":"Vera Portillo, Dionysios Neofytos","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000000972","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Although invasive mold infections (IMI) are a major complication in high-risk populations, treatment duration has not yet been well defined.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Guidelines suggest documenting clinical/radiological resolution and immunological recovery before stopping antifungal treatment, after a minimum duration of treatment of 3 months for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, while longer (up to 6 months) duration is proposed for the treatment of invasive mucormycosis. However, data on and definitions of clinical/radiological resolution and immune recovery remain scarce. Limited real-life data suggest that often much longer courses of treatment are given, generally in the context of continuous immunosuppression, occasionally defined as secondary prophylaxis. However, clearcut definition and distinction of secondary prophylaxis from antifungal treatment remain to be defined.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Decisions to stop antifungal treatment are based on poorly defined treatment responses and immune reconstitution and experts' opinions. More evidence is needed to determine the optimal duration of treatment of IMI. Well designed, easy to use, and realistic algorithms to help clinicians decide when to stop antifungal treatment are urgently needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6000,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/QCO.0000000000000972","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2023/9/19 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose of review: Although invasive mold infections (IMI) are a major complication in high-risk populations, treatment duration has not yet been well defined.
Recent findings: Guidelines suggest documenting clinical/radiological resolution and immunological recovery before stopping antifungal treatment, after a minimum duration of treatment of 3 months for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, while longer (up to 6 months) duration is proposed for the treatment of invasive mucormycosis. However, data on and definitions of clinical/radiological resolution and immune recovery remain scarce. Limited real-life data suggest that often much longer courses of treatment are given, generally in the context of continuous immunosuppression, occasionally defined as secondary prophylaxis. However, clearcut definition and distinction of secondary prophylaxis from antifungal treatment remain to be defined.
Summary: Decisions to stop antifungal treatment are based on poorly defined treatment responses and immune reconstitution and experts' opinions. More evidence is needed to determine the optimal duration of treatment of IMI. Well designed, easy to use, and realistic algorithms to help clinicians decide when to stop antifungal treatment are urgently needed.
期刊介绍:
This reader-friendly, bimonthly resource provides a powerful, broad-based perspective on the most important advances from throughout the world literature. Featuring renowned guest editors and focusing exclusively on two topics, every issue of Current Opinion in Infectious Disease delivers unvarnished, expert assessments of developments from the previous year. Insightful editorials and on-the-mark invited reviews cover key subjects such as HIV infection and AIDS; skin and soft tissue infections; respiratory infections; paediatric and neonatal infections; gastrointestinal infections; tropical and travel-associated diseases; and antimicrobial agents.