Empiric antifungal therapy for the neutropenic patient

One of the major challenges facing oncologists today is invasive fungal inf ection. Difficult to diagnose and deadly when missed, invasive fungal infec tion-primarily by Candida and Aspergillus organisms-is the major infectious cause of death associated with chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. In t his review, the problem will be described and evidence-based approaches to management, including assessment for risk factors and empiric antifungal th erapy, will be discussed. Finally, the future of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for protecting the immunocompromised patient will be considered .