S. Rugină 1, Claudia Simona Cambrea 1
1 Universitatea „Ovidius” Constanţa, Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica de Boli Infecţioase
Abstract
Fungal infections are a serious p problem in outpatients and hospitalized paediatric patients. Candida is a common cause of oral mucous membrane infections (thrush) and perineal skin infections (candidal diaper dermatitis) in newborn infants. Disseminated candidiasis and candidemia have become a frequent problem in neonatal intensive care units. These fungal infections in neonates and infants are associated with the aggressive use of chemotherapy, widespread use of broad spectrum antibiotics, extensive use of indwelling intravascular catheters, the immunodeficiency associated with AIDS and new borns in intensive care units. Amphotericin B, which frequently causes serious nephrotoxicity, and 5-fluorocytosine were once the only drugs available to treat serious fungal infections. Newer agents have had a major impact on our ability to treat, more safely and effectively, local and systemic invasive fungal infections. Fluconazol, a triazole agent, has been used to treat > 20 million patients with primarily Candida and other yeast infections. As might be expected, antifungal resistance has emerged and has led to an increase in the development and marketing of several even newer azole drugs as well as other classes of antifungals. The paediatric dose for new antifungals used in therapy of systemic infections is not established yet.