Systemic fungal infections in hematological malignancies
Abstract
Introduction
In few centers around the world within a period of several decades were made autopsy studies of patients with any kind of cancer for the purpose to find representation of systemic (invasive) fungal infection (IFI).
Objective
The objective of this paper is the representation of systemic (invasive) fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies and the potential possibility for prevention and treatmant.
Materials and methods
The data shown is from a research made in M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Huston, Texas and from the medical book Carol A. Kauffman, Peter G. Pappas - Essentials of Clinical Mycology 2nd edition 2011.
Results and discussions
Results from the research made in M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre show that 57% (1990-1999) and 68% (2000-2008) of the patients with leukemia have had some kind of an invasive fungal infection. Results documented in “Essential of Clinical Mycology” show that 26% of the patients with leukemia worldwide have had invasive fungal infection confirmed by an autopsy. Authors assume that around 75% of the leukemia patients are with undiagnosed IFI during life. The shown data suggests that giving specific antifungal therapy while treating leukemia can prevent complications such as IFI.Also an importand data from this research is the change of representation in the most commonly fungal pathogens, candida and aspergillus. Before 1990 the most common fungal infection were due candida infections. Afterwards aspergillus has taken that place. This is due to involving of azole prophylaxis while threating leukemia.
Conclusion
Some studies based on autopsy showed that average rate of leukemia patients with invasive fungal infection is 26%.
The use of azole prophylaxis in the treatment of leukemia lowered the rate of systemic candidiasis in patient by 5 to 10%.
Antifungal therapy for leukemia patitents can help prevent IFI which is one of the most common reason for premature deaths of this patients.
Key words
aspergillus, candida, fungal, infections, invasive, leukemia.
