Abstract
Candida and Aspergillus spp. are the most common agents responsible for invasive fungal infections in children. They are associated with a high mortality and morbidity rate as well as high health care costs. An important increase in their incidence has been observed during the past two decades. In infants and children, invasive candidiasis is five times more frequent than invasive aspergillosis. Candida sp. represents the third most common agent found in healthcare-associated bloodstream infections in children. Invasive aspergillosis is more often associated with hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Recommendations concerning prophylactic treatment for invasive aspergillosis have been recently published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Candida albicans is the main Candida sp. associated with invasive candidiasis in children, even if a strong trend toward the emergence of Candida non-albicans has been observed. The epidemiology and the risk factors for invasive fungal infections are quite different if considering previously healthy children hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit, or children with a malignancy or a severe hematological disease (leukemia). In children, the mortality rate for invasive aspergillosis is 2.5 to 3.5 higher than for invasive candidiasis (respectively 70% vs. 20% and 30%).
Highlights
Candida and Aspergillus spp. are the most common agents responsible for invasive fungal infections (IFI) in children
Candida spp. is the third most common agent implicated in healthcare-associated bloodstream infections in children [4,5,6,7,8]
By combining various risk factors in 101 children hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), it has been shown recently [3] that the risk of ICI in this population increased from 10% to 46%
Summary
Candida and Aspergillus spp. are the most common agents responsible for invasive fungal infections (IFI) in children. High mortality rates have been observed in specific populations, and some authors have identified ethnic origin as a possible risk factor for developing ICI, especially in Filipino patients [26]. Sung et al [27] performed a survey of the available data from the pediatric cancer population ( patients with AML) and IFI They reported that during the induction and consolidation phases of treatment, respectively, 10% and 6% of children developed Candida infection. Clear incidence of IAI in children with or without a hematologic underlying disease, or in the PICU, is not easy to Figure 1 Mortality associated with type of Candida spp. among patients with candidemia younger (n = 144) and older (n = 1,447) than 13 years [6].
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.