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Current status of antifungal resistance and its impact on clinical practice
Author(s) -
AlcazarFuoli Laura,
Mellado Emilia
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/bjh.12896
Subject(s) - candida albicans , antifungal , biology , antifungal drugs , mycosis , invasive candidiasis , microbiology and biotechnology , intensive care medicine , immunology , medicine , fluconazole
Summary Mortality linked to invasive fungal diseases remains very high despite the availability of novel antifungals and new therapeutic strategies. C andida albicans and A spergillus fumigatus account for most invasive mycosis produced by yeast or moulds, respectively. Other C andida non‐ albicans are increasingly being reported and newly emerging, as well as cryptic, filamentous fungi often cause disseminated infections in immunocompromised hosts. Management of invasive fungal infections is becoming a challenge as emerging fungal pathogens generally show poor response to many antifungals. The ability of reference antifungal susceptibility testing methods to detect emerging resistance patterns, together with the molecular characterization of antifungal resistance mechanisms, are providing useful information to optimize the effectiveness of antifungal therapy. The current status of antifungal resistance epidemiology with special emphasis on the molecular resistant mechanisms that have been described in the main pathogenic fungal species are reviewed.