Thomas J. Walsh, MD

The article written by Drs. Wingard and Leather presents a thoughtful review of the current approaches to empiric antifungal therapy in neutropenic patients. Empiric antifungal therapy has evolved as a standard of care for the prevention of invasive fungal infections in neutropenic patients who remain persistently febrile despite the use of broad-spectrum antibacterial antibiotics.[1-3] Empiric antifungal therapy in this setting provides early treatment for clinically occult invasive fungal infections and systemic prophylaxis for neutropenic patients at highest risk.

The article by Sarkodee-Adoo and colleagues on the management of infections in patients with acute leukemia provides an authoritative review of approaches to the prevention and treatment of infections in this high-risk population. Indeed, among the different populations of patients with neoplastic diseases, those with acute leukemia, particularly acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), are at very high risk for the development of severe infectious complications.[1,2]