Diagnosis and management of invasive fungal infections due to non-Aspergillus moulds.

Abstract

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) due to moulds other than Aspergillus are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Non-Aspergillus mould (NAM) infections appear to be on the increase due to an ever-expanding population of immunocompromised hosts. In this review, Mucorales, Scedosporium species, Lomentospora prolificans and Fusarium species are examined in detail, and the microbiology, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of emerging NAMs such as Paecilomyces variotti, Purpureocillium lilacinum and Rasamsonia are summarized. The challenges in diagnosis are emphasized and the emerging importance of molecular methods is discussed. Treatment of IFI due to NAMs is a multi-pronged and multi-disciplinary approach. Surgery, correction of underlying risk factors, and augmentation of the host immune response are as important as antifungal therapy. Many of these NAMs are intrinsically resistant to the currently licensed antifungal agents, so selection of therapy needs to be guided by susceptibility testing. There are new antifungal agents in development, and these have the potential to improve the efficacy and safety of antifungal treatment in the future. Ongoing research is required to fully delineate the epidemiology of NAM infections, and to develop better diagnostic tools and treatments so that outcomes from these infections can continue to improve.