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 ca ncer patients. Conventional amphotericin B remains the standard drug for an timycotic 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 prec linical and clinical studies. In this review the most important antifungal compounds are described, and aspects of disease management in neutropenic a nd nonneutropenic patients are discussed.