Approaches to antifungal therapy in the intensive care unit

The risk of fungal infection is increasing in intensive care unit patients and the spectrum of pathogens is changing. A number of new antifungal agents are becoming available, but their use in critically ill patients has not been assessed in randomized controlled trials. Furthermore, distinguishing colonization from infection is problematic in intensive care unit patients. Clinicians who are involved in the management of intensive care unit patients must remain vigilant and devise a risk-based antifungal strategy that is based on local experience and susceptibility patterns.