Management of invasive fungal infections in oncological patients

Invasive fungal infections, especially due to Candida and Aspergillus spp., have become a major cause of infection-related mortality in neutropenic cancer patients. Conventional amphotericin B remains the standard drug for antimycotic therapy, however, new antifungal compounds with broad antifungal activity such as lipid formulations of amphotericin B, new azoles, candins, nikkomycin Z, and pradimicin have been developed and are evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. In this review the most important antifungal compounds are described, and aspects of disease management in neutropenic and nonneutropenic patients are discussed.