Clinical Edge Journal Scan

Posaconazole posts strong results against invasive fungal infections in cancer patients


 

Key clinical point: Triazole antifungal agents, as well as amphotericin B and caspofungin, reduced rates of invasive fungal infections in patients with hematological malginancies; notably, posaconazole also was more effective at reducing all-cause mortality and adverse events compared with other triazoles.

Major finding : Posaconazole was superior to fluconazole (odds ratio 0.30), itraconazole (OR 0.40), and amphotericin B (OR 4.97) in reducing the incidence of both suspected and confirmed invasive fungal infections.

Study details: The data come from a meta-analysis of 35 studies including 37 randomized, controlled trials of the effectiveness of triazoles, polyene, and echinocandin antifungals for infection control in patients with hematological malignancies.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Source: Zeng H et al. BMC Cancer. 2021 Apr 14. doi: 10.1186/s12885-021-07973-8.

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