The role of diagnostic tests in antifungal stewardship for treating invasive fungal infections: a plain language summary

This is a summary of an article originally published in the journal . Invasive fungal infections are caused by fungi. They can spread to deeper parts of the body. Some diagnostic tests are slow and may delay treatment. Better tests help to identify infection early in patients. An antifungal stewardship (shortened to AFS) program is a stepwise process to improve how patients are treated. AFS programs using diagnostic tests may help to manage infections. In this study, researchers wanted to know the impact of such AFS programs. To do so, they looked at the information from 17 previously published studies, which is summarized here. Infections were identified and treated faster in studies with improved diagnostic tests. Treatment cost decreased when infections were identified and treated early. Patients were treated for shorter periods of time. They also spent less time in hospital. Number of deaths were less. AFS programs based on diagnostic tests helped patients.