Optimizing Antifungal Treatment Strategies to Prevent Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Infection-Related Deaths in Intensive Care Unit Patients: The Need for Standardization of Research Definitions

Mycopathologia. 2024 Jul 27;189(4):69. doi: 10.1007/s11046-024-00879-6.

Abstract

The clinical spectrum of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) has expanded in recent decades. A large group of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) is indeed susceptible to the development of IPA. Although timely diagnosis and antifungal therapy of IPA in this expanding population is crucial to prevent IPA-related deaths, the magnitude of the favorable prognostic impact of antifungal therapy is difficult to measure precisely. In our opinion, the development of standardized research definitions could have favorable implications for further improving our ability both to measure the favorable effect of antifungal treatment and to prevent IPA-related death in ICU patients.

Keywords: Aspergillus; Definitions; ICU; IPA; Invasive aspergillosis; Invasive fungal diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents* / administration & dosage
  • Antifungal Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units*
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis* / diagnosis
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis* / drug therapy
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis* / mortality
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis* / prevention & control

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents