The European Conference on Infections in Leukemia (ECIL) provides recommendations for diagnostic strategies and prophylactic, pre-emptive or targeted therapy strategies for various types of infection ...in patients with hematologic malignancies or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients. Meetings are held every two years since 2005 and evidence-based recommendations are elaborated after evaluation of the literature and discussion among specialists of nearly all European countries. In this manuscript, the ECIL group presents the 2015-update of the recommendations for the targeted treatment of invasive candidiasis, aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Current data now allow a very strong recommendation in favor of echinocandins for first-line therapy of candidemia irrespective of the underlying predisposing factors. Anidulafungin has been given the same grading as the other echinocandins for hemato-oncological patients. The beneficial role of catheter removal in candidemia is strengthened.
guidelines now recommend the use of either voriconazole or isavuconazole for first-line treatment of invasive aspergillosis, while first-line combination antifungal therapy is not routinely recommended. As only few new data were published since the last ECIL guidelines, no major changes were made to mucormycosis recommendations.
Voriconazole therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is increasingly used in clinical practice. However, the utility of voriconazole TDM to guide therapy remains uncertain and controversial. We conducted a ...meta-analysis of studies assessing the relationship between voriconazole serum concentration and clinical outcomes of success and toxicity.
We searched bibliographic databases for studies on voriconazole serum concentrations and clinical outcomes. We compared success outcomes between patients with therapeutic and subtherapeutic voriconazole serum concentrations, and toxicity outcomes between patients with and without supratherapeutic serum concentrations.
Twenty-four studies were analysed. Pooled analysis for efficacy endpoint demonstrated that patients with therapeutic voriconazole serum concentrations (1.0-2.2 mg/L) were more likely to have successful outcomes compared with those with subtherapeutic voriconazole serum concentrations (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.39-3.81). A therapeutic threshold of 1.0 mg/L was most predictive of successful outcome (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.04-3.62). Patients with therapeutic concentrations did not have better survival rates. Pooled analysis for toxicity endpoint demonstrated that patients with supratherapeutic voriconazole serum concentrations (4.0-6.0 mg/L) were at increased risk of toxicity (OR 4.17; 95% CI 2.08-8.36). A supratherapeutic threshold of 6.0 mg/L was most predictive of toxicity (OR 4.60; 95% CI 1.49-14.16).
Patients with therapeutic voriconazole serum concentrations were twice as likely to achieve successful outcomes. The likelihood of toxicity associated with supratherapeutic voriconazole serum concentrations was 4-fold that of therapeutic concentrations. Our findings suggest that the use of voriconazole TDM to aim for serum concentrations between 1.0 and 6.0 mg/L during therapy may be warranted to optimize clinical success and minimize toxicity.
Summary Invasive opportunistic fungal diseases (IFDs) are important causes of morbidity and mortality in paediatric patients with cancer and those who have had an allogeneic haemopoietic stem-cell ...transplantation (HSCT). Apart from differences in underlying disorders and comorbidities relative to those of adults, IFDs in infants, children, and adolescents are unique with respect to their epidemiology, the usefulness of diagnostic methods, the pharmacology and dosing of antifungal agents, and the absence of interventional phase 3 clinical trials for guidance of evidence-based decisions. To better define the state of knowledge on IFDs in paediatric patients with cancer and allogeneic HSCT and to improve IFD diagnosis, prevention, and management, the Fourth European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-4) in 2011 convened a group that reviewed the scientific literature on IFDs and graded the available quality of evidence according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America grading system. The final considerations and recommendations of the group are summarised in this manuscript.
Mucormycosis is an emerging cause of infectious morbidity and mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies. However, there are no recommendations to guide diagnosis and management. The ...European Conference on Infections in Leukemia assigned experts in hematology and infectious diseases to develop evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis. The guidelines were developed using the evidence criteria set forth by the American Infectious Diseases Society and the key recommendations are summarized here. In the absence of validated biomarkers, the diagnosis of mucormycosis relies on histology and/or detection of the organism by culture from involved sites with identification of the isolate at the species level (no grading). Antifungal chemotherapy, control of the underlying predisposing condition, and surgery are the cornerstones of management (level A II). Options for first-line chemotherapy of mucormycosis include liposomal amphotericin B and amphotericin B lipid complex (level B II). Posaconazole and combination therapy of liposomal amphotericin B or amphotericin B lipid complex with caspofungin are the options for second line-treatment (level B II). Surgery is recommended for rhinocerebral and skin and soft tissue disease (level A II). Reversal of underlying risk factors (diabetes control, reversal of neutropenia, discontinuation/taper of glucocorticosteroids, reduction of immunosuppressants, discontinuation of deferroxamine) is important in the treatment of mucormycosis (level A II). The duration of antifungal chemotherapy is not defined but guided by the resolution of all associated symptoms and findings (no grading). Maintenance therapy/secondary prophylaxis must be considered in persistently immunocompromised patients (no grading).
Infections are a major cause of morbidity in children with primary or secondary immunodeficiency, and have a negative impact on overall outcome.
This narrative review presents select ...paediatric-specific aspects regarding the clinical impact, diagnosis, management, and follow-up of infectious complications in patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies.
PubMed until January 2024 and searched references in identified articles including the search terms: infection, immunodeficiency or cancer, diagnostics, antimicrobial agents, bacteria or fungus or virus, and follow-up.
Major advances have been made in the early detection and management of patients with primary immunodeficiency, and multiple analyses report in children with cancer on risk groups and periods of risk for infectious complications. Although many diagnostic tools are comparable between children and adults, specific considerations have to be applied, such as minimizing the use of radiation. Antimicrobial drug development remains a major challenge in the paediatric setting, which includes the establishment of appropriate dosing and paediatric approval. Last, long-term follow-up and the impact of late effects are extremely important to be considered in the management of immunocompromised paediatric patients.
Although infectious disease supportive care of immunocompromised children and adolescents has considerably improved over the last three decades, close international collaboration is needed to target the specific challenges in this special population.
Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients with bone marrow failure syndromes, hematological malignancies, hematopoietic stem cell ...transplantation (HSCT), those admitted in intensive care units (ICUs) and those with prolonged febrile neutropenia. IFDs occur in a setting of multiple morbidities and are associated with case fatality rates between 30 and 70%. Along with the development of classes and compounds, the last two decades have seen substantial improvements in the prevention and management of these infections and an overall increased use of antifungal agents. Areas covered: All antifungal agents, including amphotericin B formulations, echinocandins and the triazoles, may cause hepatic toxicity that ranges from mild and asymptomatic abnormalities in liver function tests to substantial liver injury and fulminant hepatic failure. Expert opinion: The present article reviews incidence and severity of hepatotoxicity associated with different classes and agents to provide a better understanding of this specific end organ toxicity and safer use of antifungal agents A thorough understanding of the distribution, metabolism, elimination and drug-drug interactions of antifungal agents used for management of IFDs in combination with safety data from clinical trials, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies may guide the use of antifungal treatment in patients at high risk for the development of hepatic dysfunction and in those with underlying liver damage due to cytotoxic therapy.
Abstract
Objectives
This analysis evaluated the variability of isavuconazole plasma concentrations between subjects and between sampling times, and assessed their relationship to outcomes for ...subjects with invasive fungal disease (IFD) in the SECURE trial.
Methods
Isavuconazole-treated subjects received 372 mg of isavuconazonium sulphate (corresponding to 200 mg of isavuconazole) three times daily for 2 days, then once daily. Plasma samples were collected after day 4 and analysis sets were constructed as follows: analysis set 1 included all samples from subjects with proven/probable/possible IFD who received ≥1 dose of isavuconazole; analysis set 2 included samples from subjects in analysis set 1 who had provided >1 sample; and analysis set 3 included samples from subjects in analysis set 1 with proven/probable invasive aspergillosis. Assessments included overall distributions of plasma concentrations and variability between samples (analysis sets 1 and 2) as well as relationships to outcomes all-cause mortality (day 42), overall response (end of treatment) and treatment-emergent adverse events; analysis sets 1 and 3.
Results
Analysis sets 1, 2 and 3 included samples from 160, 97 and 98 subjects, respectively. Trough concentrations for each were distributed similarly mean (SD): 3406.6 (1511.5), 3495.6 (1503.3) and 3368.1 (1523.2) ng/mL, respectively. The mean coefficient of variation between samples in analysis set 2 was 23.2%; differences between concentrations in first samples and subsequent samples were <2-fold for 85/97 subjects. In quartiles of subject data, no concentration-dependent relationships were observed for efficacy or safety.
Conclusions
Plasma concentrations of isavuconazole were reasonably consistent between subjects and sampling times, and were not associated with differences in outcomes.
Posaconazole (POS) is a potent triazole antifungal agent approved in adults for treatment and prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the ...pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of POS oral suspension in pediatric subjects with neutropenia.
This was a prospective, multicenter, sequential dose-escalation study. Enrolled subjects were divided into 3 age groups: AG1, 7 to <18 years; AG2, 2 to <7 years; and AG3, 3 months to <2 years. AG1 and AG2 were divided into 3 dosage cohorts: DC1, 12 mg/kg/day divided twice daily (BID); DC2, 18 mg/kg/day BID; and DC3, 18 mg/kg/day divided thrice daily (TID). AG3 was also divided into DC1 and DC2; however, no subjects were enrolled in DC2. Subjects received 7-28 days of POS oral suspension. PK samples were collected at predefined time points. The POS PK target was predefined as ~90% of subjects with Cavg (AUC /dosing interval) between 500 and 2500 ng/mL, with an anticipated mean steady state Cavg exposure of ~1200 ng/mL.
The percentage of subjects meeting the PK target was <90% across all age groups and dosage cohorts (range: 31% to 80%). The percentage of subjects that achieved the Cavg target of 500 to 2500 ng/mL on Day 7 ranged from 31% to 80%, with the lowest proportion in subjects 2 to <7 years receiving 12 mg/kg/day BID (AG2/DC1) and the highest proportion in subjects 7 to <18 years receiving 18 mg/kg/day TID (AG1/DC3). At all three dose levels (12 mg/kg/day BID, 18 mg/kg/day BID and 18 mg/kg/day TID), subjects in AG1 (7 to <18 years old) had higher mean PK exposures at steady state than those in AG2. High variability in exposures was observed in all groups. POS oral suspension was generally well tolerated and most of the reported adverse events were related to the subjects' underlying diseases.
The POS PK target of 90% of subjects with Cavg between 500 and 2500 ng/mL was not achieved in any of the age groups across the different dosage cohorts. New formulations of the molecule with a greater potential to achieve the established PK target are currently under investigation.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01716234.
Abstract
Background
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) causes substantive morbidity in immunocompromised patients. The EORTC/MSGERC convened an expert group to elaborate consensus definitions for ...Pneumocystis disease for the purpose of interventional clinical trials and epidemiological studies and evaluation of diagnostic tests.
Methods
Definitions were based on the triad of host factors, clinical-radiologic features, and mycologic tests with categorization into probable and proven Pneumocystis disease, and to be applicable to immunocompromised adults and children without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Definitions were formulated and their criteria debated and adjusted after public consultation. The definitions were published within the 2019 update of the EORTC/MSGERC Consensus Definitions of Invasive Fungal Disease. Here we detail the scientific rationale behind the disease definitions.
Results
The diagnosis of proven PCP is based on clinical and radiologic criteria plus demonstration of P. jirovecii by microscopy using conventional or immunofluorescence staining in tissue or respiratory tract specimens. Probable PCP is defined by the presence of appropriate host factors and clinical-radiologic criteria, plus amplification of P. jirovecii DNA by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in respiratory specimens and/or detection of β-d-glucan in serum provided that another invasive fungal disease and a false-positive result can be ruled out. Extrapulmonary Pneumocystis disease requires demonstration of the organism in affected tissue by microscopy and, preferably, PCR.
Conclusions
These updated definitions of Pneumocystis diseases should prove applicable in clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiologic research in a broad range of immunocompromised patients without HIV.
Purpose To update a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the empirical management of fever and neutropenia (FN) in children with cancer and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation recipients. ...Methods The International Pediatric Fever and Neutropenia Guideline Panel is a multidisciplinary and multinational group of experts in pediatric oncology and infectious diseases that includes a patient advocate. For questions of risk stratification and evaluation, we updated systematic reviews of observational studies. For questions of therapy, we conducted a systematic review of randomized trials of any intervention applied for the empirical management of pediatric FN. The Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to make strong or weak recommendations and to classify levels of evidence as high, moderate, low, or very low. Results Recommendations related to initial presentation, ongoing management, and empirical antifungal therapy of pediatric FN were reviewed; the most substantial changes were related to empirical antifungal therapy. Key differences from our 2012 FN CPG included the listing of a fourth-generation cephalosporin for empirical therapy in high-risk FN, refinement of risk stratification to define patients with high-risk invasive fungal disease (IFD), changes in recommended biomarkers and radiologic investigations for the evaluation of IFD in prolonged FN, and a weak recommendation to withhold empirical antifungal therapy in IFD low-risk patients with prolonged FN. Conclusion Changes to the updated FN CPG recommendations will likely influence the care of pediatric patients with cancer and those undergoing hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Future work should focus on closing research gaps and on identifying ways to facilitate implementation and adaptation.
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