Evaluation of treatment of invasive fungal infections

Systematic review on efficacy and safety of empirical versus pre-emptive antifungal therapy among children with febrile neutropenia reveals paucity of data

BACKGROUND

Two approaches are used to manage invasive fungal disease (IFD) in febrile neutropenic patients viz. empirical therapy (without attempting to confirm the diagnosis), or pre-emptive therapy (after screening tests for IFD).

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review was undertaken to compare these approaches in children.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Clinical Trial Registries and grey literature, for randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing empirical versus pre-emptive antifungal therapy in children with FN suspected to have IFD. We used the Cochrane Risk of bias 2 tool for quality assessment, and evaluated the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

We identified 7989 citations. Stepwise screening identified only one relevant RCT that administered empirical (n = 73) or pre-emptive (n = 76) antifungal therapy. There were no significant differences in all-cause mortality (RR 1.56, 95% CI: 0.46, 5.31), IFD mortality (RR 1.04, 95% CI:0.15, 7.20) and other clinically important outcomes such as duration of fever, duration of hospitalization and proportion requiring ICU admission. There were no safety data reported. The number of days of antifungal therapy was significantly lower in the pre-emptive therapy arm. The certainty of evidence for all outcomes was 'moderate'.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review highlighted the paucity of data, comparing empirical versus pre-emptive antifungal therapy in children with febrile neutropenia having suspected invasive fungal disease. Data from a single included trial suggests that both approaches may be comparable in research settings. Robust trials are warranted to address the gap in existing knowledge about the optimal approach in clinical practice.

Efficacy of Posaconazole Prophylaxis for Fungal Disease in Hematology Patients Treated With Chemotherapy and Transplantation: An Open-Label, Prospective, Observational Study

Background

Posaconazole (PCZ) is used prophylactically to prevent invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients with hematological malignancies.

Objective

To evaluate the cut-off serum concentration of PCZ for successful IFI prophylaxis in Chinese subjects.

Patients and Methods

A total of 74 patients treated with induction chemotherapy (n = 10) and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (n = 64), who received PCZ prophylactically as an oral suspension for >7 days, were included in the study. Clinical, radiological, microbiological culture results, and treatment responses were analyzed and drug concentration assays performed.

Results

The overall incidence of possible, probable, and proven IFIs was 13.5% (10/74), with five patients in the chemotherapy group and five in the HSCT group. The PCZ serum concentration in most patients (54/63) was in the range of 0.25–1.0 μg/ml, and this concentration range was significantly associated with the success rate of PCZ prophylaxis. A cut-off value of 0.47 μg/ml can be considered as an evaluation index for PCZ prophylaxis. Taking a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) would reduce the PCZ blood concentration, but not affect the IFD breakthrough point. PCZ treatment for hematopoietic malignancy or HSCT patients with a serum concentration of PCZ < 0.47 μg/ml were risk factors for PCZ prophylaxis of IFIs, determined by univariable and multivariable regression analyses.

Conclusion

The serum concentration of PCZ was related to the incidence of IFIs and a serum concentration of >0.47 μg/ml is highly recommended to avoid IFIs after chemotherapy or HSCT.

Clinical Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900026294.

Potentially inappropriate drug prescribing in elderly hospitalized patients: an analysis and comparison of explicit criteria

BACKGROUND

The management of therapy in elderly is a critical aspect of primary care. The physio-pathological complexity of the elderly involves the prescription of multiple drugs, exposing them to a higher risk of adverse reactions.

OBJECTIVE

Aim of this study was to assess the medication use and (potential) inappropriate medications and prescribing omissions in the elderly before and during hospitalization, according to the main tools in literature described, and their relation to the number of comorbidities.

SETTING

The study was carried out by the Clinical Pharmacists at ISMETT, an Italian Research Institute.

METHODS

The prescriptions of elderly, admitted in ISMETT between January and December 2012, were analyzed. The information about clinical profile of elderly and prescriptions was obtained from the electronic medical records. 2012 Beers criteria, Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment criteria, and Improving Prescribing in the Elderly criteria were used to evaluate the appropriateness of prescriptions. The correlation between the number of comorbidities and the different tools was analyzed with the Spearman correlation coefficient. The frequency analysis was done with the Pearson Chi square test.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Percentage of potentially inappropriate medications and prescribing omissions before/during hospitalization in elderly.

RESULTS

1027 elderly were admitted between January and December 2012. At admission and during hospitalization, according to Beers criteria 24 and 49 % of elderly had at least one potentially inappropriate medication, respectively; according to the Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions criteria 21 and 27 %, respectively; according to the Improving Prescribing in the Elderly criteria 28 and 25 %, respectively; and then, according to Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment criteria 28 and 33 % had at least one potentially prescribing omission, respectively. A significant correlation between comorbidities number and potentially inappropriate medications was found.

CONCLUSION

The number of potentially inappropriate medications globally increased during hospitalization. Statistical analysis showed that the comorbidity affects the level of inappropriate prescriptions. Specific tools can guide clinicians toward a more rational use of medicines and minimize probable complications related to multi-treatments.

Economic Comparison of an Empirical Versus Diagnostic-Driven Strategy for Treating Invasive Fungal Disease in Immunocompromised Patients

PURPOSE

Patients with persistent or recurrent neutropenic fevers at risk of invasive fungal disease (IFD) are treated empirically with antifungal therapy (AFT). Early treatment using a diagnostic-driven (DD) strategy may reduce clinical and economic burdens. We compared costs and outcomes of both strategies from a UK perspective.

METHODS

An empirical strategy with conventional amphotericin B deoxycholate (C-AmB), liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB), or caspofungin was compared with a DD strategy (initiated based on positive ELISA results for galactomannan antigen) and/or positive results for Aspergillus species on polymerase chain reaction assay) using C-AmB, voriconazole, or L-AmB in a decision-analytic model. Rates of IFD incidence, overall mortality, and IFD-related mortality in adults expected to be neutropenic for ≥10 days were obtained. The empirical strategy was assumed to identify 30% of IFD and targeted AFT to improve survival by a hazard ratio of 0.589. AFT-specific adverse events were obtained from a summary of product characteristics. Resource use was obtained, and costs were estimated by using standard UK costing sources. All costs are presented in 2012 British pounds sterling.

FINDINGS

Total costs were 32% lower for the DD strategy (£1561.29) versus the empirical strategy (£2301.93) due to a reduced incidence of adverse events and decreased use of AFT. Administration of AFT was reduced by 41% (DD strategy, 74 of 1000; empirical strategy, 125 of 1000), with similar survival rates.

IMPLICATIONS

This study suggests that a DD strategy is likely to be cost-saving versus empirical treatment for immunocompromised patients with persistent or recurrent neutropenic fevers.