Primary prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in patients with hematologic malignancies. Recommendations of the Infectious Diseases Working Party of the German Society for Haematology and Oncology

1 Klinik I für Innere Medizin, Klinikum der Universität Köln 2 Zentrum für Klinische Studien (01KN0706), Köln 3 Onkologikum Frankfurt am Museumsufer, Frankfurt 4 III. Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim gGmbH, Mannheim 5 Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg 6 Klinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Klinikum Neuperlach, München 7 Medizinische Klinik 5, Hämatologie und Internistische Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen 8 Medizinische Klinik C, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald 9 Medizinische Klinik Hämatologie und Onkologie, Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann, Potsdam 10 Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Klinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Berlin 11 Pädiatrische Hämatologie/Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster 12 Charité Universitätsmedizin, Campus Charité Mitte, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Berlin 13 Schwerpunktpraxis für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Weilheim, Germany 14 Haematological Sciences (CALS), Leech Building, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom 15 Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle 16 Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, III. Medizinische Klinik, Mainz, Germany Correspondence: Oliver A. Cornely, MD, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln, Klinik I für Innere Medizin Zentrum für Klinische Studien (BMBF 01KN0706) 50924 Köln, Germany. E-mail: oliver.cornely{at}ctuc.de There is no widely accepted standard for antifungal prophylaxis in patients with hematologic malignancies. The Infectious Diseases Working Party of the German Society for Haematology and Oncology assigned a committee of hematologists and infectious disease specialists to develop recommendations. Literature data bases were systematically searched for clinical trials on antifungal prophylaxis. The studies identified were shared within the committee. Data were extracted by two of the authors (OAC and MSi). The consensus process was conducted by email communication. Finally, a review committee discussed the proposed recommendations. After consensus was established the recommendations were finalized. A total of 86 trials were identified including 16,922 patients. Only a few trials yielded significant differences in efficacy. Fluconazole 400 mg/d improved the incidence rates of invasive fungal infections and attributable mortality in allogeneic stem cell recipients. Posaconazole 600 mg/d reduced the incidence of IFI and attributable mortality in allogeneic stem cell recipients wit