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Do We Need Antifungal Stewardship?

  • Treatment and Prevention of Hospital Infections (D Vilar-Compte, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of review

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are recognized as a significant health problem worldwide. Inappropriate use of antifungals contributes to antifungal resistance and emerging fungi. There is an urgent clinical need to limit inappropriate antifungal usage through judicious antifungal stewardship (AFS).

Recent findings

The main goals of AFS are optimized care, de-escalation or withdrawal of antifungal therapy when appropriate, reduced costs, and reduced fungal resistance, with no negative impact in terms of morbidity or mortality. AFS should be tailored for each institution and health-care system, and should be performed by an experienced and trained multidisciplinary team, based on education, bedside interventions, and daily collaboration with the microbiology department and pharmacy team. Performance measures are needed to evaluate the impact of AFS. It is recommended that AFS be implemented in a stepwise manner, with modest initial goals to enable demonstration of success in the short term.

Summary

Encouraging the appropriate use of antifungal drugs should help to decrease the incidence of IFIs, thereby reducing antifungal resistance.

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References and Recommended Reading

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Av. San Fernando No. 22, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14000, México City, México

    B. Gómez-Gómez M.D. & P. Cornejo-Juárez M.D., M. Sc.

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  1. B. Gómez-Gómez M.D.
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Gómez-Gómez, B., Cornejo-Juárez, P. Do We Need Antifungal Stewardship?. Curr Treat Options Infect Dis 11, 81–91 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40506-019-00185-6

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