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Review
. 2012 Jul 15;59(1):21-6.
doi: 10.1002/pbc.23415. Epub 2011 Nov 18.

Antifungal prophylaxis in pediatric hematology/oncology: new choices & new data

Christopher C Dvorak  1 , Brian T Fisher, Lillian Sung, William J Steinbach, Michael Nieder, Sarah Alexander, Theoklis E Zaoutis
Affiliations
Review

Antifungal prophylaxis in pediatric hematology/oncology: new choices & new data

Christopher C Dvorak et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer. .

Abstract

A severe complication of the treatment of pediatric cancers is the development of an invasive fungal infection (IFI). The data to support antifungal prophylaxis in pediatric oncology patients derive primarily from adult patients, and thus the optimal agent to utilize is not clear. Fluconazole has been a standard option, but agents with antimold activity are now available, each with limitations. Pediatric dosing for voriconazole and posaconazole is uncertain and multiple drug interactions exist. The echinocandins are well-tolerated, but only available in intravenous form. Ultimately, studies demonstrating biologic risk factors for the development of IFI may lead to personalized prophylactic strategies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: Nothing to declare.

References

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