AmBisome, three challenges: Candida auris infection, central nervous system infection, and biofilm-associated infection

Abstract

The treatment of invasive fungal infections remains a challenge, both for the diagnosis and for the need of providing the appropriate antifungal therapy. Candida auris is a pathogenic yeast that is responsible for hospital outbreaks, especially in intensive care units; it is characterized by a high resistance to the antifungal agents and can become multidrug-resistant.

At present, the recommended antifungal agents for the invasive infections with this pathogen are echinocandins, always after carrying out an antifungal susceptibility testing. In case of no clinical response or persistent candidemia, the addition of liposomal amphotericin B or isavuconazole may be considered. Both fungal infection of the central nervous system and that associated with biomedical devices remain rare entities affecting mainly immunocompromised patients.

However, an increase in their incidence in recent years, along with high morbidity and mortality, has been shown. The treatment of these infections is conditioned by the limited knowledge of the pharmacokinetic properties of antifungals.

A better understanding of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of the different antifungals is essential to determine the efficacy of the antifungal agents in the treatment of these infections.

CITATION  Rev Iberoam Micol. Apr-Jun 2021;38(2):84-90.  doi: 10.1016/j.riam.2021.03.004. Epub 2021 Jun 16.