Infecciones fúngicas invasivas emergentes / Emerging invasive fungal infections

RESUMEN

La frecuencia y diversidad de las infecciones fúngicas ha cambiado en los últimos 25 años. La aparición de hongos menos frecuentes pero con importancia médica está aumentando y ahora son más los niños en riesgo al añadirse procesos médicos predisponentes como los debidos al cáncer, principalmente neoplasias malignas hematológicas, trasplantes de médula ósea o de progenitores hematopoyéticos (TPH), tratamientos inmunosupresivos, neutropenias prolongadas e inmunodeficiencias de células T. Entre las infecciones por hongos, fusariosis y feohifomicosis (hongos dematiáceos) están siendo comunicadas con más frecuencia en este grupo de pacientes.Para tratar con éxito estas desafiantes infecciones es prioritario que pediatras y subespecialistas se mantengan informados sobre el diagnóstico oportuno y óptimo y así como de las opciones terapéuticas. Al contrario que otras micosis más frecuentes que causan enfermedad en humanos, no hay disponibilidad de pruebas diagnósticas simples antigénicas o serológicas para detectar estos microorganismos en sangre o tejidos(AU)

ABSTRACT

The frequency and diversity of invasive fungal infections has changed over the last 25 years. The emergence of less common, but medically important fungi has increased, and the children at risk has expanded, with the inclusion of medical conditions such as cancer, mainly haematological malignancy or stem cell transplant, immunosuppressive therapy, prolonged neutropenia, and T-cell immunodeficiency. Among mould infections, fusariosis and phaeohyphomycosis (Dematiaceous fungi) have been increasingly reported in this group of patients.To successfully manage these challenging infections, it is imperative that paediatricians and sub-specialists remain aware of the optimal and timely diagnosis and therapeutic options. Unlike other common mycoses that cause human disease, there no simple antigen or serological tests available to detect these pathogens in tissue or blood.The outcome for these disseminate, and often refractory fungal infections in neutropenic patients and transplant recipients remains extremely poor, requiring early and aggressive therapy. Unfortunately there are no guidelines outlining the choices for optimal therapy in the treatment of paediatric invasive fungal infections do not exist, and on the other hand are limited paediatric data available comparing antifungal agents in children with proven, probable or suspected invasive fungal infection. The options for treatment rest mainly on some adult guidelines that comment on the treatment of these emerging and uncommon important fungi in children. Despite the sparse clinical trials available on treatment and its poor outcome, options for treatment of invasive fungal infections have increased with the advance of new antifungal agents, with improved tolerability and increased range of activity.The epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of fusariosis and phaeohyphomycosis are discussed in this article(AU)