Posaconazole oral suspension as salvage therapy for invasive fungal disease in patients with hematological diseases

Posaconazole (POS) is an extended-spectrum triazole approved for treatment of refractory invasive fungal disease. Outcome analysis of POS salvage therapy is of great clinical significance. We retrospectively reviewed data for 113 patients who received POS oral suspension as salvage therapy between December 2013 and May 2018. Cumulative success rate at 12 weeks was 53.1% (60/113) with a rapid increase within the first 3-4 weeks and a plateau at 6 weeks after POS initiation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that disseminated infection, prolonged neutropenia, severe graft-versus-host disease and high-dose steroid use were independent risk factors of response. POS oral suspension is effective as a salvage therapy for invasive fungal disease.