American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Series, 2: Management and Prevention of Aspergillosis in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients.

2021

201-211

2021 Mar

2666-6367

<p>The Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy partnered with its Transplant Infectious Disease Special Interest Group to update its 2009 compendium-style infectious disease guidelines for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). A completely fresh approach was taken with the goal of better serving clinical providers by publishing each standalone topic in the infectious disease series as a concise format of frequently asked questions (FAQs), tables, and figures. Adult and pediatric infectious disease and HCT content experts developed, then answered FAQs, and finalized topics with harmonized recommendations that were made by assigning an A through E strength of recommendation paired with a level of supporting evidence graded I through III. This second guideline in the series focuses on invasive aspergillosis, a potentially life-threatening infection in the peri-HCT period. The relevant risk factors, diagnostic considerations, and prophylaxis and treatment approaches are reviewed.</p>

10.1016/j.jtct.2020.10.003

Transplant Cell Ther

33781516

Core Recommendations for Antifungal Stewardship: A Statement of the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium.

2020

S175-S198

2020 Aug 05

1537-6613

<p>In recent years, the global public health community has increasingly recognized the importance of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in the fight to improve outcomes, decrease costs, and curb increases in antimicrobial resistance around the world. However, the subject of antifungal stewardship (AFS) has received less attention. While the principles of AMS guidelines likely apply to stewarding of antifungal agents, there are additional considerations unique to AFS and the complex field of fungal infections that require specific recommendations. In this article, we review the literature on AMS best practices and discuss AFS through the lens of the global core elements of AMS. We offer recommendations for best practices in AFS based on a synthesis of this evidence by an interdisciplinary expert panel of members of the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium. We also discuss research directions in this rapidly evolving field. AFS is an emerging and important component of AMS, yet requires special considerations in certain areas such as expertise, education, interventions to optimize utilization, therapeutic drug monitoring, and data analysis and reporting.</p>

10.1093/infdis/jiaa394

J. Infect. Dis.

32756879

Revision and Update of the Consensus Definitions of Invasive Fungal Disease From the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium.

2019

2019 Dec 05

1537-6591

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) remain important causes of morbidity and mortality. The consensus definitions of the Infectious Diseases Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group have been of immense value to researchers who conduct clinical trials of antifungals, assess diagnostic tests, and undertake epidemiologic studies. However, their utility has not extended beyond patients with cancer or recipients of stem cell or solid organ transplants. With newer diagnostic techniques available, it was clear that an update of these definitions was essential.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>To achieve this, 10 working groups looked closely at imaging, laboratory diagnosis, and special populations at risk of IFD. A final version of the manuscript was agreed upon after the groups' findings were presented at a scientific symposium and after a 3-month period for public comment. There were several rounds of discussion before a final version of the manuscript was approved.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>There is no change in the classifications of "proven," "probable," and "possible" IFD, although the definition of "probable" has been expanded and the scope of the category "possible" has been diminished. The category of proven IFD can apply to any patient, regardless of whether the patient is immunocompromised. The probable and possible categories are proposed for immunocompromised patients only, except for endemic mycoses.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>These updated definitions of IFDs should prove applicable in clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiologic research of a broader range of patients at high-risk.</p>

10.1093/cid/ciz1008

Clin. Infect. Dis.

31802125

Development of new strategies for early diagnosis of mucormycosis from bench to bedside.

2014

2-7

2014 Dec

1439-0507

<p>Early diagnosis and initiation of amphotericin B (AmB) for treatment of mucormycosis increases survival from approximately 40% to 80%. The central objective of a new study of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) and the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) Zygomycosis Working Group is to improve the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of mucormycosis. The diagnostic tools generated from this study may help to significantly improve survival from mucormycosis worldwide. The study has three major objectives: to conduct a prospective international registration of patients with mucormycosis using a well-established global network of centres; to construct a predictive risk model for patients at risk for mucormycosis; and to establish an international archive of specimens of tissues, fluids, and organisms linked from the patients enrolled into the registry that will be used for development of leading edge molecular, proteomic, metabolic and antigenic systems for mucormycosis.</p>

10.1111/myc.12249

Mycoses

25475924