понедельник, 8 октября 2012 г.

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia describe findings in pediatric in children.(Report) - Biotech Week

New research, 'Pediatric antifungal utilization: new drugs, new trends,' is the subject of a report. According to a study from the United States, 'The frequency and severity of invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients has increased steadily over the last 2 decades. In response to the increased incidence and high mortality rates, novel antifungal agents have been developed to expand the breadth and effectiveness of treatment options available to clinicians.'

'Despite these therapeutic advances, the impact of the availability of new antifungal agents on pediatric practice is unknown. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Pediatric Health Information System database to describe the changes in pediatric antifungal therapy at 25 freestanding United States children's hospitals from 2000 to 2006. All pediatric inpatients who received a charge for one or more of the following agents were included in the analysis: conventional amphotericin B (AMB), lipid amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, flucytosine, caspofungin, and micafungin. Underlying conditions and fungal infection status were ascertained. A total of 62,842 patients received antifungal therapy, with prescriptions significantly increasing during the 7-year study period (p=0.03). The most commonly prescribed antifungal agent was fluconazole (76%), followed by amphotericin preparations (26%). Prescription of AMB steadily decreased from 2000 to 2006 (p=0.02). Prescription of voriconazole steadily increased during the study period and replaced AMB for the treatment of aspergillosis. The echinocandins steadily increased in prescription for treatment of fungal infections, particularly in disseminated/systemic candidiasis,' wrote P.A. Prasad and colleagues, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (see also Life Sciences).

The researchers concluded: 'We found that the number of pediatric inpatients requiring antifungal therapy has increased significantly and the choice of treatment has changed dramatically with the introduction of newer antifungal agents.'

Prasad and colleagues published their study in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal (Pediatric antifungal utilization: new drugs, new trends. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 2008;27(12):1083-8).

For more information, contact P.A. Prasad, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Dept. of Infection Prevention and Control, Philadelphia, PA USA..

Publisher contact information for the The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA.

Keywords: United States, Philadelphia, Life Sciences, Pediatric, Antifungals, Clinical Trial Research, Pharmaceuticals, Drug Development, Therapy, Treatment, Amphotericin B, Drugs, Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Fluconazole.

This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.