ABSTRACT
The most significant influence on treatment outcomes in invasive fungal infections (IFIs) is the impact of host factors, such as resolution of neutropenia, graft-versus-host disease, return of graft function from bone or solid organ transplantation, and control of the underlying disease. In contrast to bacteria, antifungal susceptibility testing for pathogens causing IFIs is not routinely performed at most institutions. This is due to multiple factors, including lack of standardized methodology, lack of available laboratory resources, and lack of data correlating microbiologic resistance or susceptibility and patient outcomes. Patients receiving solid organ transplants are at significant risk of invasive fungal infections owing to a number of factors, and the risk of these infections varies according time after transplantation. Assurance of safe administration of antifungals requires that procedures are in place to prevent drug-related toxicities whenever possible, detect treatment-related adverse effects, and minimize the potential for drug-drug interactions.
