First results of prophylaxis for bacterial and fungal infections in pediatric patients with high-risk acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10065-10065
Author(s):  
Annick Beaugrand ◽  
Renato Guedes Oliveira ◽  
Ethel Gorender ◽  
Renato Melaragno ◽  
Sidnei Epelman

10065 Background: Bacterial and invasive fungal infections remain a major contributor to treatment related morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. It has been published data of potential prevention; in immunocompromised hosts derive primarily from adult studies. However, children differ from adults in terms of the infections types as they develop or manifest, as well as their metabolism of treatment agents. From April 2010 to January 2011, 6 ALL patients received 35 intensive chemotherapy cycles during the first 6 months after diagnosis, 2 died due to infection. Methods: From April 2011 to January 2012, a prospective analysis in 8 high risk ALL patients ( BFM criteria) after 31 cycles of intensive chemotherapy were performed during the first 6 months of treatment followed by antibacterial and antifungal prophylaxis. Drugs are: ciprophloxacin 1000mg per day when weight highest than 30 kg and 500mg per day when lower weigh and fluconazole 100mg per day for the lower weigh and 150mg for the higher. All patient received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor after each cycles until complete neutrophils recovery. Results: In 20/31 cycles, hospitalization was needed, due to febrile neutropenia. Diarrhea, sepsis and renal failure were other reasons for hospitalization. Platelet transfusions and blood transfusions were performed in 12 and 9 hospitalization respectively. The majority of proven infections (n=7) were bacterial, Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella spp), Gram positive, Candida (1 cycle). Hospitalization time was between 2 and 25 days (median time 10 days). In 4 cycles, intensive care unit was needed. No death occurred. Conclusions: Bacterial and fungal infections continue to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children receiving intensive therapy. Pharmacologic prophylaxis can contribute to decrease mortality due to infection in this population.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 2858-2858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitin Jain ◽  
Gloria N. Mattiuzzi ◽  
Jorge Cortes ◽  
Jennifer Cassat ◽  
Guillermo Garcia-Manero ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Patients with high risk (HR) myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have significant toxicities such as mucositis, protracted neutropenia and severe infections when treated with standard chemotherapy. This had led to the development of ‘less intense’ chemotherapy (targeted therapy, TT). These treatments are expected to produce less toxicities, especially less immunosuppression. Antibiotic and antifungal prophylaxis are routinely given to patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy. It is not clear if the same strategy should be used for patients receiving less intensive chemotherapy. The objective of this study is to evaluate the outcome of patients receiving TT according to the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with AML and HR MDS that received TT as induction therapy from January 2000 to July 2007 at our institution. Baseline characteristics and antibiotic usage was recorded. All courses of TT received from start of therapy until outcome (response or failure) was assessed were evaluated, and infections or death occurring during any of these courses constituted an event. Results 225 patients received TT [decitabine or azacitidine n = 137 (61%); miscellaneous (tipifarnib, PKC412, imatinib, SAHA, and others) n=88 (39%)] for a total of 583 courses (median course per patient = 2). Median age was 72 years (range 13–89), 60% were male, 95% had Zubroad performance status ≤ 2 and 28% were neutropenic at the start of TT. None of the patients were placed in HEPA-filtered rooms (‘protected environment’) at any time. Each course of therapy was grouped into 1 of 4 groups based on the strategy use for infectious prophylaxis (table 1). Clinically documented infections and FUO were the most frequent type of infection reported in all the groups, followed by bacterial infections. Fungal infections were infrequent (total 5; group 1 = 1; group 2 = 2, group 3 = 2). There was no significant difference in the number of infectious episodes per course between the groups that received both antibacterial and antifungal prophylaxis vs. those who received no prophylaxis (p= 0.984). However, mortality was significantly higher during courses of TT administered without prophylaxis (p= 0.005). Conclusions As opposed to standard chemotherapy, fungal infections are infrequent in the patients treated with TT. Mortality is significantly higher in patients who did not receive any anti-microbial prophylaxis. The use of antibacterial and antifungal prophylaxis should be considered in patients receiving TT. Table 1: Groups based on antimicrobial strategy Strategy Strategy No. of courses No. of infectious episodes (%) No. of death (%) * p=0.984; # p=0.005 No prophylaxis 202 45 (22%) * 12 (5.94%) # Both bacterial and fungal prophylaxis 171 38 (18%) * 1 (0.58%) # Only bacterial prophylaxis 206 31 (15%) 6 (2.91%) Only fungal prophylaxis 4 0 (0%) 0 (0%)


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Gangneux ◽  
Christophe Padoin ◽  
Mauricette Michallet ◽  
Emeline Saillio ◽  
Alexandra Kumichel ◽  
...  

Antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) is recommended by international guidelines for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) undergoing induction chemotherapy and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Nonetheless, treatment of breakthrough fungal infections remains challenging. This observational, prospective, multicentre, non-comparative study of patients undergoing myelosuppressive and intensive chemotherapy for AML who are at high-risk of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs), describes AFP management and outcomes for 404 patients (65.6% newly diagnosed and 73.3% chemotherapy naïve). Ongoing chemotherapy started 1.0 ± 4.5 days before inclusion and represented induction therapy for 79% of participants. In 92.3% of patients, posaconazole was initially prescribed, and 8.2% of all patients underwent at least one treatment change after 17 ± 24 days, mainly due to medical conditions influencing AFP absorption (65%). The mean AFP period was 24 ± 32 days, 66.8% stopped their prophylaxis after the high-risk period and 31.2% switched to a non-prophylactic treatment (2/3 empirical, 1/3 pre-emptive/curative). Overall, 9/404 patients (2.2%) were diagnosed with probable or proven IFDs. During the follow-up, 94.3% showed no signs of infection. Altogether, 20 patients (5%) died, and three deaths (0.7%) were IFD-related. In conclusion, AFP was frequently prescribed and well tolerated by these AML patients, breakthrough infections incidence and IFD mortality were low and very few treatment changes were required.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 5251-5251
Author(s):  
Helena Pomares ◽  
Montserrat Arnan ◽  
Isabel Sánchez-Ortega ◽  
Anna Sureda ◽  
Rafael F. Duarte

Abstract Introduction: The incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFI) and need for antifungal prophylaxis in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML) treated with hypomethylating agents is currently unknown. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the incidence of IFI in all MDS/AML patients receiving azacitidine (75 mg/m2/day 7 days every 28-day cycle) in our center between June 2007 and June 2015. IFI diagnosis follows the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Mycosis Study Group (EORTC/MSG) 2008 Criteria. Patients did not receive antifungal prophylaxis. Results: One hundred and twenty one consecutive unselected patients (86 MDS and 35 AML; Table 1) received a total of 948 cycles of azacitidine in this series (median 5, range 1-43). One hundred and ten (91%) received azacitidine frontline and 11 (9%) following refractoriness or relapse after previous intensive chemotherapy. Seventy one patients received ≥4 azacitidine cycles. Forty two (35 %) patients had complete medullar and cytogenetic responses. Two hundred and seventy four azacitidine cycles (28%) in 49 patients (40%) were administered during and/or led to prolonged grade IV neutropenia (<0.5x109/L ³10 days), and caused febrile neutropenia episodes in 121 cycles (12% of total, 44% of neutropenic cycles) in 45 patients (37%), range 1-6 per patient. Four IFI occurred in these patients: one possible, two probable and one proven (Table 2). The incidence of IFI was 0.42% per treatment cycle and 3.3% per patient treated for the overall series, and 0.72% per treatment cycle and 4.1% per patient treated among those with prolonged severe neutropenia. Of note, all cases of IFI occurred in either the first or the second azacitidine courses. Two patients died from IFI, leading to an IFI-related mortality rate of 1.65% per patient treated and 0.21% per treatment cycle. The numbers needed to treat with primary prophylaxis, even for an ideal agent that could potentially prevent all IFI, are well in excess of 100 courses of azacitidine and well over 20 patients throughout their treatment course, to prevent one single IFI in these patients, even among those with neutropenia. Conclusion: Our data show that patients with MDS/AML treated with azacitidine have a very low risk of IFI, including those with concurrent severe prolonged neutropenia. Primary antifungal prophylaxis should not be recommended for this subset of patients. This very low risk of IFI is a potential additional benefit from treatment of MDS/AML with hypomethylating agents, compared to conventional intensive chemotherapy. Prospective studies are needed to better address this issue. Disclosures Sureda: Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett A Melnikoff ◽  
René P Myers

Fungal infections remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical settings, with critically ill patients, transplant recipients, and sick neonates all especially vulnerable. Fungal infections remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical settings, with critically ill patients, transplant recipients, and sick neonates all especially vulnerable. Despite the development of a number of new and useful antifungal agents in the past decade and the noteworthy improvements in therapeutic approaches to fungal infections, physicians’ ability to diagnose these infections in a timely fashion remains limited, and patient outcomes remain poor. Antifungal prophylaxis has emerged as a potential means of reducing the occurrence of serious fungal infections. In patient populations estimated to be at high risk for acquiring a fungal infection, antifungal prophylaxis has reduced infection rates by about 50%; however, it has not been shown to significantly improve mortality. This review discusses both established and newly approved systemic antifungal agents. Tables list characteristics of currently available antifungals and antifungal chemotherapy. This review contains 2 tables and 32 references Key words: antifungal chemotherapy, antifungal prophylaxis, antifungals, Candida prophylaxis, systemic antifungal medications


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 3335-3335
Author(s):  
Wiro B. Stam ◽  
Amy K. O’Sullivan ◽  
Bart Rijnders ◽  
Elly Lugtenburg ◽  
Lambert F. Span ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Acute leukemia and high risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients experience prolonged neutropenia after treatment with intensive chemotherapy, leading to a high risk of acquiring potentially fatal invasive fungal infections (IFI). Pharmacoeconomic analysis is considered a valuable tool to justify the significant costs involved in managing these fungal infections. The present study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of posaconazole versus standard azoles for the prevention of IFIs in neutropenic patients in the Netherlands. Methods: A decision-tree model was developed that starts with the choice of antifungal prophylaxis: posaconazole or standard azole treatment (fluconazole or itraconazole). The decision tree was estimated using data from a recently published prospective, randomized, double blind, multi-center trial that compared both treatments in neutropenic patients receiving remission-induction chemotherapy for AML/MDS (Cornely et al., 2007). Following initiation of prophylaxis, clinical events are modeled with chance nodes reflecting probabilities of IFIs, IFI related death, and death from other causes. It is assumed that patients surviving the prophylactic period will have a life expectancy that reflects that of the underlying condition. This allows translation of the trial outcomes to a lifetime horizon. Data on life expectancy, quality of life, medical resource consumption and costs were obtained from the literature. Model outcomes include incremental cost per IFI avoided, incremental cost per life years saved and incremental cost per QALYs gained. Results: The total cost (treatment of breakthrough IFI + prophylaxis) for posaconazole amounted to €4,566 (95% uncertainty interval €3,574 –€5,769), which is €63 (−€1,552 - €1,903) less than costs with standard azoles. Posaconazole prophylaxis resulted in 0.1 (0.03 – 0.15) QALYs gained in comparison to prophylaxis with standard azoles. Results from a probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicate that there is a 87% probability that the cost per QALY gained with posaconazole is below €20,000, a commonly accepted threshold for cost-effectiveness. Additional scenario analyses with different assumptions confirmed these findings. Conclusion: Given the underlying data and assumptions, our economic evaluation demonstrated that posaconazole prophylaxis is cost and QALY saving compared to fluconazole / itraconazole in neutropenic AML/MDS patients after intensive chemotherapy.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2059-2059
Author(s):  
Gene A Wetzstein ◽  
Timothy J. George ◽  
Mahsa Sharifi ◽  
Van D Hoang ◽  
Viet Q Ho ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2059 Poster Board II-36 Background: Patients with prolonged neutropenia are at significant risk for invasive fungal infections (IFI's). The incidence of proven or probable IFI's range from 5-24% in patients treated with AML. Furthermore, the mortality rate in this high-risk population has been reported to be as high as 86% for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Given the high mortality rate associated with IFI's and our inability to reliably diagnose active cases, prophylactic therapy has emerged as the preferred approach in this high risk patient population. Recently, Cornely et al. conducted a large, prospective randomized trial evaluating prophylactic posaconazole vs. fluconazole or itraconazole in AML/MDS patients receiving induction chemotherapy. Posaconazole (P) was found to be superior to the standard azoles with respect to the incidence of proven or probable IFI's and demonstrated an overall survival benefit. Given these findings, our institution adopted P as primary antifungal (AF) prophylaxis in this setting. Previously our standard prophylactic approach was voriconazole (V) which has a similar spectrum of activity and is available in an oral and IV formulation in contrast to P which is only available orally. There does not appear to be any comparative published literature to date between these two extended-spectrum azoles in the prophylactic setting. We report herein on the efficacy and safety of voriconazole and posaconazole as primary AF prophylaxis between January 2005 and June 2008. Methods: Patients > 18 yo receiving AML/MDS induction chemotherapy without documentation of IFI were included in this retrospective analysis. The voriconazole group received 400mg PO BID × 1 day, then 200mg PO BID. The posaconazole group received 200 mg PO TID with meals. Therapy was initiated on the first day of chemotherapy or 24 hrs post anthracycline and continued until neutrophil recovery, initiation of empiric AF therapy, occurrence of proven/probable IFI, or adverse event (AE) requiring discontinuation of therapy. Proven/probable IFI was defined in accordance with the EORTC/MSG criteria. Results: 195 patients were evaluable (N=129 V; N=66 P). Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups with respect to age, sex, diagnosis, cytogenetics, disease status, days of neutropenia, and utilization of growth factors. Median time on prophylaxis was 16 (range: 4-44) and 14 (range: 3-69) days, respectively for P and V. Nine pts (7%; 95% CI (3-13%)) developed proven/probable IFI (6 non-albicans candida, 2 fusarium, 1 zygo) in the V group versus four (6%; 95% CI (2-15%)) IFIs ( 2 trichosporon, 1 fusarium, 1 scedosporium) in the P group. Median time of prophylactic therapy to diagnosis of IFI was 29 days for P vs 25 days for V, respectively. Eight pts (6%) discontinued V therapy because of AE's (4 hallucinations, 1 rash, 2 LFT elevation, 1 torsades) vs five pts (7.5%) for P (3 LFT elevation, 1 vomiting, 1 rash). Conclusion: In the present analysis, we report the comparable efficacy and safety of voriconazole and posaconazole as primary AF prophylaxis in high risk AML/MDS patients receiving induction chemotherapy. There were no differences in the incidence of proven/probable IFI's, time to IFI, time to empiric AF therapy, or AE's requiring discontinuation of therapy. Disclosures: Wetzstein: Pfizer Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Off Label Use: Voriconazole as primary antifungal prophylaxis therapy in AML patients receiving induction chemotherapy.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 4541-4541
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Irrera ◽  
Messina Giuseppe ◽  
Giuseppe Console ◽  
Massimo Martino ◽  
Cuzzola Maria ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4541 Introduction: Limited data demonstrate to what extent preventing fungal exposures is effective in preventing infection and disease. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal duration of fluconazole prophylaxis in allogeneic recipients to prevent invasive disease with fluconazole-susceptible Candida species during neutropenia. Oral, nonabsorbable antifungal drugs might reduce superficial colonization and control local mucosal candidiasis, but have not been demonstrated to reduce invasive candidiasis. Anti-fungal prophylaxis is recommended in a subpopulation of autologous recipients with underlying hematologic malignancies with prolonged neutropenia and mucosal damage. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 1007 SCT performed in our center between 1992 and 2009 in 809 consecutive patients, irrespective of diagnosis. HEPA filter and environmental monitoring (air, water, surfaces) are attributes of our transplant center. Results: The main characteristics of the patients are reported in Table 1. Systemic prophylaxis was used according to the guidelines (Table 2): fluconazole in the nineties, then itraconazole and from 2004 was either abolished or substituted with non-adsorbable prophylaxis in transplants with standard risk. Secondary prophylaxis was prescribed for high risk patients (with infectious fungal history, suggestive iconography, positive fungal biomarker). In 17 years our Center has never been colonized by mould. Only 3 probable aspergillosis infections and 4 proven fungal infections (fusarium, mucor and 2 aspergillosis) were diagnosed, all in allogeneic patients (2 haplotipical, 1 singenic, 1 sibiling, 1 MUD and 2 mismatched), resulting in death in all cases. No infection was documented in autologous setting, while the infection rate in allogenic setting was 3.6% with an incidence rate of 1.1 infection per 10000 transplants/year. These results are significantly lower than published reports. Conclusion: Systemic antifungal prophylaxis should not be performed in autologous SCT patients. The abuse of systemic prophylaxis targeting yeasts has influenced the change of epidemiology in the transplant setting with prevalence of mould infections. The identification of high risk patients is useful to select patients for systemic antifungal or secondary prophylaxis to reducing overtreatment, incidence of resistant strains and costs. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4303-4303
Author(s):  
Barbara Veggia ◽  
Francesca Saltarelli ◽  
Enrico Montefusco ◽  
Esmeralda Conte ◽  
Giusy Antolino ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4303 INTRODUCTION Invasive fungal infections (IFI) represent an important cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) undergoing intensive chemotherapy. A prophylactic antifungal therapy is often administered during intensive chemotherapy, however the optimal antifungal prophylaxis protocol is still unknown. Amphotericin B lipid complex (Abelcet®) has been commonly used as a standard treatment for IFIs caused by Aspergillus and Candida, but its effectiveness in prophilaxis has not been clearly estabilished. METHODS From September 2010 to April 2011 we treated six patients with newly diagnosed AML using low dose amphotericin B lipid complex as antifungal prophilaxis. Patients observed were three females and 3 males, median age was 54 years (range 21–74 years) and they were all fit to receive intensive chemotherapy. Three patients older than 60 years received Fludarabine based chemotherapy regimen during both induction and consolidation. Three patients aged less than 60 years old were treated using a chemotherapy protocol based on Citarabine, Daunorubicin and Ethoposide association. One patient in this group also underwent BuCy conditioned autologous stem cell transplant. Amphotericin B lipid complex was administered intravenously at 100 mg once a day. Antifungal prophilaxis was started when the absolute neutrophil count was ≤ 500 cells/μ l and was continued until neutrophils recovery was ≥ 500 cells/μ l, without any evidence of IFI. RESULTS Five patients did not experience any proven fungal infection during all treatment. Anyway one patient died during induction due to a severe bacterial lung infection. One patients discontinued antifungal prophylaxis due to extensive skin rash during the second infusion of the drug. Amphotericin B lipid complex was otherwise well tolerated by patients. One patient was diagnosed with lung aspergillosis infection by evidence of galattomannan positivity on BAL and a lung CT scan showing a single nodular escavated lesion on left upper lobe; subsequentely he was successfully treated with voriconazole. CONCLUSIONS In our experience, Amphotericin B lipid complex showed to be an effective and safe antifungal prophylaxis for newly diagnosed AML patients. Further clinical studies are certainly required to obtain definitive data. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3382-3382
Author(s):  
Pablo Silva ◽  
Jon Badiola ◽  
Reyes María Martín-Rojas ◽  
Ignacio Gómez-Centurión ◽  
Gabriela Rodríguez-Macias ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND The revised genetic risk classification established by the European Leukemia Net (ELN) in 2017 stratifies patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) into 3 prognostic categories (favourable, intermediate, and adverse) based on cytogenetic and molecular characteristics.The ELN classification is widely accepted in AML patients despite the fact that validation studies were performed in participants who received exclusively first-line treatment with intensive chemotherapy. For this reason, it is not well established whether the ELN risk groups are applicable to patients on non-intensive first-line treatment. OBJECTIVES - To describe and compare baseline characteristics at diagnosis between patients with AML treated with intensive and non-intensive therapy. - To assess whether the ELN prognostic classification is applicable in these subgroups of patients. METHODS We retrospectively analysed patients with newly diagnosed AML admitted to our center between 2007 and 2020. Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3), patients younger than 18 years old and/or patients who received exclusively supportive treatment were excluded. Demographic and clinical data, disease characteristics at diagnosis and first-line treatment were collected. Cytogenetic and molecular characteristics were used to classify patients in ELN risk groups. RESULTS Of the total of patients (n=218), one hundred and fifty-six (71.6%) received intensive chemotherapy treatment, while 62 (28.4%) were treated with non-intensive strategies. Idarubicin and cytarabine based schemes regimens (IA) were administered in most patients (98.6%) who received intensive treatment while the rest received fludarabine based regimens. One patient (0.6%) was treated with danurubicin and cytarabine liposome (CPX-351). Fifty-four (87%) patients treated with non-intensive regimens received hypomethylating agents, mostly azacitidine. Five patients (8%) were treated with venetoclax in combination with a hypomethylating agent. Table 1 shows the characteristics at diagnosis in both groups of patients. Patients who received intensive chemotherapy were younger and had higher leukocyte count, LDH values and a higher percentage of blasts in peripheral blood and bone marrow with a median of 40% and 62% blasts respectively. On the other hand, patients under non-intensive treatment more frequently presented a past history of hemopathy and a higher percentage of bone marrow dysplasia. Regarding ELN stratification significant differences were found between both groups. Patients who received aggressive chemotherapy vs patients who did not, were classified in low (28% vs. 7%), intermediate (36% vs. 58%) and high risk (36% vs. 35%) respectively (Figure 1). At the end of the follow-up, 41% of the patients who had received intensive therapy were alive while only 6.5% of the patients who had received non-intensive treatment were alive. Significant differences in survival were observed between both groups (p&lt;0.01); with 1-year overall survival (OS) of 65.8% for intensive therapy group and 49.6% for non-intensive therapy group. In the intensive chemotherapy group, significant differences in survival were observed according to ELN risk stratification (p&lt;0.01), with 5-year OS of 55%, 29% and 23.9% for low, intermediate and high-risk groups respectively. For low-risk patients, median OS was not reached while it was 20 months for the intermediate risk group and 12.2 months for the high-risk group. However, in patients receiving non-intensive therapies, there were no significant differences in survival among different prognostic categories (p=0.06). In this group, 1-year OS was 25%, 57.6% and 40.7% and median OS was 2.1, 14.8 and 10.1 months for low, intermediate and high-risk groups respectively. See Figure 2. CONCLUSIONS: As validated in previous trials, ELN classification constitutes an adequate prognostic marker for patients with newly diagnosed AML treated with intensive chemotherapy. In our series, this classification does not appear to be a good predictor of survival for patients diagnosed with AML who initiated non-intensive treatments. Further validation in prospective studies are needed to better classify this growing subgroup of patients in clinical practice. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Martín-Rojas: Celgene-BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Font Lopez: Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GILEAD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CELGENE-BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kwon: Novartis, Celgene, Gilead, Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 82-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaf Penack ◽  
Stefan Schwartz ◽  
Peter Martus ◽  
Mark Reinwald ◽  
Martin Schmidt-Hieber ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The prophylactic use of systemic antifungal agents reduces morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, the efficacy of this approach in pts receiving intensive chemotherapy or autologous HSCT is yet unproven. This trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of L-AmB prophylaxis in high-risk neutropenic pts. Methods: 231 pts with hematological malignancies and expected neutropenia (N) of more than 10 days (d) following intensive chemotherapy or autologous HSCT were enrolled, 219 pts became neutropenic and were randomized to receive either 50 mg L-AmB i.v. every second d (arm A) or no systemic antifungal prophylaxis (arm B). Treatment with L-AmB started 1–3 d prior onset of N and was continued until neutrophil recovery, breakthrough IFI, intolerable toxicity or death. The level of significance was 0.05 (two-sided) for all statistical analyses. Calculations were performed using commercially (SPSSWIN 12.0) software, the calculations for GEE were performed using the software MAREG. Results Pt. characteristics: Eligible pts 219; arm A: 110; arm B: 109. Reasons for exclusion were: Absence of N (8), infection prior N (3) and pts decision (1). Baseline characteristics were balanced for age (mean 53.8 years), underlying disease (119 AML, 27 ALL, 64 NHL, 9 other), duration of N (mean 14.8 D) and treatment modality (primary 149, secondary 42, transplant 28). Primary endpoint: The incidence of proven and probable IFI was 5 of 110 pts (4.6%) in arm A and 22 of 109 pts (20.2%) in arm B (p = 0.001, RR = 2.9, CI 1.3 – 6.5). Key secondary endpoints: Pneumonia of unknown origin occurred in 6 pts (5.5%) vs. 28 pts (25.7%) (p < 0.001), the incidence of possible, probable and proven IFI was 11 pts (10.2%) vs. 42 pts (39.6%) (p < 0.001), systemic antifungals were used in 24 pts (22%) vs. 64 pts (59%) (p < 0.001), and death occurred in 4 pts (3.7%) vs. 9 pts (8.2%) (p = 0.16) in arm A vs. arm B. Toxicity: No grade 3 or 4 toxicity was noted. Laboratory abnormalities, including creatinine and liver function tests, were not different between the treatment groups. Conclusion: Intermittent application of low dose L-AmB is save. The significant lower incidence of IFI in pts treated with L-AmB prophylaxis supports its use in prolonged N.


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