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Patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) therapy may be particularly susceptible to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because of several factors including the immunosuppression associated to the underlying disease and delayed cytopenias. Regrettably, data on outcomes of CAR-T recipients with COVID-19 are extremely scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients treated with CAR-T therapy. The European Hematology Association - Scientific Working Group Infection in Hematology endorsed a survey to collect and analyze data from patients developing COVID-19 after CAR-T therapy. Overall, 459 patients treated with CAR-T cells were reported from 18 European centers. The prevalence of COVID-19 cases was 4.8%. Median time from CAR-T therapy and COVID-19 diagnosis was 169 days. Severe infection occurred in 66.7% of patients and 43.3% of the subjects required admission to ICU. The COVID-19 mortality was 33%. In multivariable analysis, the disease status at the time of COVID-19 trended marginally towards adverse outcome (P=0.075). In conclusion, we documented a high fatality rate for CAR-T patients with COVID-19, supporting the need to design successful interventions to mitigate the risk of infection in this vulnerable group of patients.

Patients with previous CD19 directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR T)-cell therapy have a prolonged vulnerability to viral infections. Coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) has a great impact and has previously been shown to cause high mortality in this population. Until now, real world data of the impact of vaccination and treatment on patients with COVID-19 after CD19 directed CAR T-cell therapy are lacking. Therefore, this multicenter retrospective study was conducted with data from the EPICOVIDEHA survey. Sixty-four patients were identified. The overall mortality caused by COVID-19 was 31%. Patients infected with the Omicron variant had a significantly lower risk of death due to COVID-19 compared to patients infected with previous variants (7% versus 58% (P=0.012)). Twenty-six patients were vaccinated at time of COVID-19 diagnosis. Two vaccinations showed marked but unsignificant reduction risk of COVID-19 caused mortality (33.3% versus 14.2% (P=0.379)).Also the course of disease appears milder with less frequent ICU admissions (39% versus 14% (P=0.054)) and shorter duration of hospitalization (7 versus 27.5 days (P=0.022)). Of the available treatment options, only monoclonal antibodies seemed to be effectively reducing mortality from 32% to zero (P=0.036). We conclude that survival rates of CAR T-cell recipients with COVID-19 improved over time and that the combination of prior vaccination and monoclonal antibody treatment significantly reduces their risk of death.

Background: The European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) collected data on epidemiology, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes of patients with culture-proven candidaemia across Europe to assess how adherence to guideline recommendations is associated with outcomes. Methods: In this observational cohort study, 64 participating hospitals located in 20 European countries, with the number of eligible hospitals per country determined by population size, included the first ten consecutive adults with culture-proven candidaemia after July 1, 2018, and entered data into the ECMM Candida Registry (FungiScope CandiReg). We assessed ECMM Quality of Clinical Candidaemia Management (EQUAL Candida) scores reflecting adherence to recommendations of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines. Findings: 632 patients with candidaemia were included from 64 institutions. Overall 90-day mortality was 43% (265/617), and increasing age, intensive care unit admission, point increases in the Charlson comorbidity index score, and Candida tropicalis as causative pathogen were independent baseline predictors of mortality in Cox regression analysis. EQUAL Candida score remained an independent predictor of mortality in the multivariable Cox regression analyses after adjusting for the baseline predictors, even after restricting the analysis to patients who survived for more than 7 days after diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio 1·08 [95% CI 1·04–1·11; p

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by malignant lymphoplasmacytic cells in the bone marrow (BM). To dissect the pathophysiology of WM, we evaluated clonal cells by mapping of B cell lymphomagenesis with adaptive and innate immune tumor microenvironment (TME) in the BM of WM patients using mass cytometry (CyTOF). In-depth immunophenotypic profiling of WM cells showed profound expansion of clonal cells in both un-switched and switched memory B cells and also plasma cells with aberrant expression variations. WM B lymphomagenesis was associated with reduction of most B cell precursors assessed with the same clonally restricted light chain and phenotypic changes. The immune TME was infiltrated by mature monocytes, neutrophils and adaptive T cells, preferentially subsets of effector T helper and effector and effector memory CTL cells that were associated with superior overall survival (OS), in contrast to progenitors of T cells and myeloid/monocytic lineage subsets that were suppressed in WM cohort. Moreover, decrease in immature B and NKT cells was related to worse OS in WM patients. Innate and adaptive immune subsets of WM TME were modulated by immune checkpoints, including PD-1/PD-L1PD-L2, TIGIT/PVR, CD137/CD137-L, CTLA-4, BTLA and KIR expression. The response of ibrutinib treatment to the reduction of clonal memory B cell was associated with high levels of immature B cells and effector memory CTL cells. This study demonstrates that CyTOF technology is a powerful approach for characterizing the pathophysiology of WM at various stages, predicting patient risk and monitoring the effectiveness of treatment strategies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Objective Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a fatal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, caused by reactivation of John Cunningham polyomavirus, affecting mainly patients in an immunocompromised state. Recently, drug-associated PML is gaining attention as more cases of PML in connection with the use of various immunomodulatory drugs emerge. Over the last couple of years, sporadic reports have occurred about a possible association between PML and the use of a new immunomodulatory drug, ibrutinib (Imbruvica), primarily indicated for the treatment of various B-cell malignancies. Case report Herein, we report a case of a 62-year-old female patient with bilateral mantle cell lymphoma of conjunctiva diagnosed at IVA clinical stage (according to the Ann Arbor staging of lymphomas) of the disease. As a first line of treatment, the patient was given 6 cycles of rituximab-based chemotherapy followed by a complete remission. Seven years later, the patient relapsed, at which point the treatment with ibrutinib was initiated. Three weeks after the initial dosage, the patient started to show signs of progressive neurological symptomatology and died 4 months thereafter due to bilateral bronchopneumonia. Due to unspecific MRI signs and negative PCR results, the diagnosis of PML was confirmed only postmortem. Conclusion This case report demonstrates a possible severe adverse effect of the immunomodulatory drug ibrutinib and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in its diagnosis. Since PML is a rare but highly fatal disease, it is of utmost importance to be aware of the possible connection with the use of this drug to prevent missed or delayed diagnosis, considering that timely therapeutic intervention is crucial for improved prognosis.

Empiric antifungal therapy is considered the standard-of-care for high-risk neutropenic patients with persistent fever. The impact of a pre-emptive, diagnostic-driven approach based on galactomannan (GM) screening and chest CT-scan on demand on survival and on the risk of invasive fungal disease (IFD) during the first weeks of high-risk neutropenia is unknown.Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients were randomly assigned to receive caspofungin empirically (Arm A) or pre-emptively (Arm B). All patients received fluconazole 400 mg daily as prophylaxis. The primary endpoint of this non-inferiority study was overall survival (OS) 42 days after randomization.Of 556 patients recruited, 549 were eligible: 275 in Arm A, 274 in Arm B. Eighty percent of the patients had AML or MDS requiring high-dose chemotherapy and 93% of them were in first induction phase. At day 42, the OS was not inferior in Arm B (96.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 93.8 - 98.3%) when compared to Arm A (93.1%; 95% CI, 89.3 - 95.5%). The rates of IFDs at day 84 were not significantly different, 7.7% (95%CI, 4.5-10.8%) in Arm B versus 6.6% (95%CI, 3.6-9.5%) in Arm A, respectively. The rate of patients receiving caspofungin was significantly lower in Arm B (27%) than in Arm A (63%) (p 0.001).The pre-emptive antifungal strategy was safe for high-risk neutropenic patients given fluconazole as prophylaxis, halving the number of patients receiving antifungals without excess mortality or IFDs.

e18774 Background: Vaccination remains the leading strategy against Covid-19 worldwide. BNT 162b2 (tozinameran) belongs among first licensed vaccines with good efficacy. However, the role of monitoring both, antibodies and cell immunity after vaccination remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a 6-month prospective study involving vaccinated workers of NCCC in Slovakia who were tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies and cell immunity after second dose of tozinameran. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were detected by the Atellica IM sCOVG, a fully automated 2-step sandwich immunoassay using indirect chemiluminescent technology. Blood samples were tested by two IGRA tests (Quantiferon RUO and CoviFeron) to assess interferon-γ (IFN-γ) responses to SARS CoV-2 spike protein antigen and nucleocapsid protein antigen. Results were stratified by gender and body mass index. P values for categorical variables were calculated using χ2 or Fishers exact test. P values for continuous variables were calculated using T test and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. Value of statistical significance was set to 0.05. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 software. Results: Medical records of 94 respondents (71 females) were analyzed. Mean age was 40.2 years (23 – 62 years) and mean body mass index (BMI) ± standard error of mean (SEM) was 26.4±2.7 (21.3 – 31.7). Twenty-two (23.4 %) respondents had Covid-19 before first, 5 (5.3 %) before second, and 2 (2.15 %) after second dose of vaccine (P < 0.0001). IgG were tested 24.4±5.0, 50.2±12.1, and 187.9±12.8 days after second vaccination. IgG index progressively decline with corresponding values 126.81±40.34, 93.55±51.29, and 17.68±29.07 (P < 0.0001). Mean time from second vaccination to cell immunity testing was 157.2±101.3 days. Forty-eight (51.1 %) of respondents had negative, 6 (6.4 %) border line, and 40 (42.6 %) positive cell immunity (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our study confirmed the efficacy of tozinameran despite both, rapid decline of antibodies and absence of cell immunity in majority of subjects.

Health care costs are continuously increasing. Multiple myeloma represents approximately 1% of all malignancies and the 5-year prevalence is 230,000 patients on average. In addition, there is an annual incidence of 3.8/100,000 in Slovakia. In total economic burden assessment, it is important to focus not only on direct but also on indirect costs, including the lost productivity due to premature death. Based on the data and information obtained from the key stakeholders the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, the Social Insurance Agency, and NCZI, we provided the assessment of direct and indirect costs. The total cost of the disease for the model patient represents €409,071 from the diagnosis of MM to death. The major cost burden is associated with the treatment, €155,645 followed by the costs of productivity loss due to premature death, €127,611. Cost-of-illness studies provide an important view on the total burden of the disease in specific areas and are necessary for an adequate decision-making process from the regulatory and reimbursement perspective.

Background: Umbralisib, a selective PI3Kδ and casein kinase-1epsilon (CK1ε) inhibitor, is pharmacologically distinct from other PI3K inhibitors and is administered orally once daily. Ublituximab is a novel anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody glycoengineered for enhanced antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) that targets a unique epitope on CD20. The UNITY-NHL trial (NCT02793583) is a multicenter, open-label, registration-directed Phase 2 study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the umbralisib + ublituximab (umbra+ubli, U2) combination in patients with previously treated NHL . Umbra has been recently approved for the treatment (tx) of previously treated marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) based on reported data (Fowler JCO 2021), and the U2 combination has been shown to be active with a manageable safety profile in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) NHL (Lunning Blood 2019). In contrast with other PI3Kis, there has been a low incidence of immune-mediated toxicities with umbra, possibly attributable to enhanced selectivity for the PI3Kδ isoform as well as inhibition of CK1ε. Herein, we present results from the MZL cohort treated with U2. Methods: Eligible patients had histologically confirmed MZL (splenic, nodal, extranodal) and were R/R to ≥1 prior lines of tx which must have included an anti-CD20. Patients were treated with U2: umbra was given orally at 800 mg once daily until progression or unacceptable tolerability and ubli was administered intravenously on Days 1, 8, and 15 of Cycle 1, on Day 1 of Cycles 2-6, and on Day 1 every 3 cycles until Cycle 24 in 28-day tx cycles. The primary endpoint of the study was overall response rate (ORR) as assessed by an independent review committee according to the revised IWG criteria (Cheson 2007). Secondary endpoints included duration of response (DoR), progression-free survival (PFS), time to response (TTR), and safety. Results: 72 MZL patients were enrolled and received U2. The median age was 70 years (range 40-89), 53% were female, 74% had stage III or IV disease, and 25% were refractory to their immediate prior therapy. Patients had received a median of 2 prior regimens (range 1-9). As of the cutoff date, 41 patients remain on tx. The ORR was 68%, with 19% achieving complete response (CR). At a median follow-up of 16 months, median DoR was not reached (12 - not estimable). 90% of patients had a reduction in disease burden from baseline while on U2. Figure 1a depicts efficacy data for U2, and Figure 1b shows the best % change in target lesions from baseline for MZL patients treated with at least 1 dose of U2. The most common adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea (all grades: 49%, grade ≥3: 13%), nausea (all grades: 30%, grade ≥3: 0%), and fatigue (all grades: 36%, grade ≥3: 6%). Other AEs of interest included non-infectious colitis (all grades: 2.8 %, grade ≥3: 2.8%) and rash (all grades: 11%, grade ≥3: 0%). Four patients (5.6%) discontinued due to an AE. Conclusions: U2 was highly active in patients with R/R MZL, with improved efficacy when compared to a prior cohort of MZL patients treated in this study with umbra mono (Fowler JCO 2021). The safety profile of the U2 combination was manageable, with a relatively low incidence of immune-mediated toxicities and AE-related discontinuations. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Chavez: Bristol Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; BeiGene: Speakers Bureau; Epizyme: Speakers Bureau; MorphoSys: Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Adaptive: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Kite/Gilead: Consultancy. Goldschmidt: AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding. Samaniego: Imbrium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Arog: Research Funding. Wrobel: Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Cavallo: ROCHE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Speakers Bureau; Servier: Speakers Bureau. Fonseca: Sanofi: Honoraria; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Epizyme: Honoraria; Dava Oncology: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria. Drgona: Abbvie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Teva: Honoraria; Viatris: Honoraria. Hawkes: Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel and accommodation expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Merck KgA: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Specialised Therapeutics: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squib/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Regeneron: Speakers Bureau; Antigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck Sharpe Dohme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Levi: AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding. Miskin: TG Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Sportelli: TG Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. O'Connor: Myeloid Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company; Mundipharma: Consultancy; Nomocan: Consultancy; Kymera: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; TG Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Dren: Consultancy, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Fowler: Bristol Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, TG Therapeutics and Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BostonGene, Corp: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Zinzani: ROCHE: Other, Speakers Bureau; NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Other, Speakers Bureau; GILEAD: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; KYOWA KIRIN: Other, Speakers Bureau; SANDOZ: Other: Advisory board; BMS: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Other, Speakers Bureau; JANSSEN-CILAG: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; CELLTRION: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; VERASTEM: Consultancy, Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; SERVIER: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; TAKEDA: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; Beigene: Other, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; EUSAPHARMA: Consultancy, Other, Speakers Bureau; ADC Therap.: Other.

Introduction Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) has historically been one of the major causes of severe sepsis and death among neutropenic cancer patients. There has been a recent increase of multidrug-resistant PA (MDRPA) isolates that may determine a worse prognosis, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. The aim of this study is to establish the impact of antibiotic resistance on the outcome of neutropenic onco-haematological patients with PA bacteraemia, and to identify the risk factors for MDRPA bacteraemia and mortality. Methods and analysis This is a retrospective, observational, multicentre, international study. All episodes of PA bacteraemia occurring in neutropenic onco-haematological patients followed up at the participating centres from 1 January 2006 to 31 May 2018 will be retrospectively reviewed. The primary end point will be overall case-fatality rate within 30 days of onset of PA bacteraemia. The secondary end points will be to describe the following: the incidence and risk factors for multidrug-resistant and extremely drug-resistant PA bacteraemia (by comparing the episodes due to susceptible PA with those produced by MDRPA), the efficacy of ceftolozane/tazobactam, the rates of persistent bacteraemia and bacteraemia relapse and the risk factors for very early (48 hours), early (7 days) and overall (30 days) case-fatality rates. Ethics and dissemination The Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Bellvitge University Hospital approved the protocol of the study at the primary site. To protect personal privacy, identifying information of each patient in the electronic database will be encrypted. The processing of the patients’ personal data collected in the study will comply with the Spanish Data Protection Act of 1998 and with the European Directive on the privacy of data. All data collected, stored and processed will be anonymised. Results will be reported at conferences and in peer-reviewed publications.

Mounting evidence has demonstrated the critical role of the gut microbiome in different cancer treatment modalities showing intensive crosstalk between microbiota and the host immune system. In cancer patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), conditioning regimens including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunosuppressive therapy, as well as antimicrobial prophylaxis, result in intestinal barrier disruption and massive changes in microbiota composition. According to clinical studies, a drastic loss of microbial diversity during HSCT is associated with enhanced pro-inflammatory immune response and an increased risk of transplant-related complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and mortality. In this review, we outline the current understanding of the role of microbiota diversity in the patient response to cancer therapies and highlight the impact of changes in the gut microbiome on clinical outcomes in post-HSCT patients. Moreover, the therapeutic implications of microbiota modulation by probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in hematologic cancer patients receiving HSCT are discussed.

e18724 Background: Active immunization seems to be the most effective protection against COVID-19. The objective of this prospective study was to explore the side effects of mRNA vaccine Tozinameran and possible differences in their incidence between different categories of employees at the National Cancer Institute in Bratislava, Slovakia (NCI). Methods: Four hundred and thirteen subjects (89 men) were enrolled into this ongoing prospective study in January, 2021. Median age was 47 years (range 19-79 years). Majority were healthcare professionals (N=306), including nurses (N=125), medical-technical workers (N=89), and physicians (N=42). Presence of side effects was entered by the physicians into electronic data files and their accuracy validated for each subject by an independent investigator. Number of adverse events in the subgroups were compared with log-rank test. Results: At median follow up of 4 weeks, injection site pain (63.0%), pain in the extremity (45.5%), and fatigue (28,6%) belonged among the most common adverse events of Tozinameran. Median number of side effects was 2 (range 0-13). Adverse event incidence was significantly higher in females compare to males (median number 2 vs. 1, P < 0.00001). In a subgroup of healthcare professionals, we found a significantly higher incidence of side effects compared to non-healthcare workers (median number 2 vs. 1, P = 0.00017). Conclusions: In this study, incidence of Tozinameran adverse events was significantly higher in females vs. males and healthcare professionals vs. non-healthcare workers. All side effects were mild and no new safety signals were recognized during follow-up. Key Words: Tozinameran, Active Immunization. COVID-19. Healthcare Professionals. Adverse Events. This study was supported by National Cancer Institute in Bratislava (SK) and OncoReSearch (SK).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of a variety of infectious complications in patients with CLL regarding the duration of CLL and the type of treatment. We present the retrospective analysis of patients with CLL treated at our institution in years 2004-2016. We collected data about the type of infection, pathogenes, treatment and severity of infections surpassed in connection with administration treatment. In the study one hundred and ten patients were evaluated. The average age of patients was 61.7 years (range 34.5-91.9 years). Fludarabine was the most widely used regimen, followed by bendamustine and alemtuzumab. We recorded 393 episodes of infections, of which 114 (29%) were severe and life threatening of degree 3-5, and 279 (71%) of degree 2. The most common infections were the upper respiratory tract infections together with sinusitis (45.03%), pneumonia (26.20%), CMV reactivation occured in 8.14%, infections of the skin was in 7.6 %. Most infections have occurred with the administration of monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab, these patients were at significantly higher risk of infection [RR 2.59 (1.30 to 5.17)] than patients receiving obinutuzumab [RR 0.63 (0.48 to 0.82)] (p = 0.0001). On the contrary, the safety profile of BCR signaling pathway inhibitors was very acceptable [RR 1.17 (0.70 - 1.96)]. The number of infections have decreased during the first 12 months of treatment with ibrutinib. In the study group we recorded 19 deaths, 8 (7.27%) of them were of infectious etiology. The risk of infectious complications is lifelong in patients with CLL, it can be minimized by early detection and aggressive management. Novel targeted agents used in therapy of CLL have a good safety profile, even the risk of infection is decreased during administration.

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common side effect of chemotherapy that frequently necessitates hospitalization and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), but is poorly studied in Eastern European countries. We investigated HCRU and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) use in patients hospitalized for FN in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Eligible patients were ≥18 years old, had received chemotherapy for solid tumors or hematological malignancies of any stage, and had been hospitalized for FN. The primary objective was to evaluate FN-related HCRU; secondary objectives included the description of chemotherapy treatment patterns and G‑CSF use. Data were analyzed by participating country. Data of 156 patients from Bulgaria and 79 patients each from the Czech Republic and Slovakia were analyzed. The most frequent solid tumors were breast (n = 28) and testicular cancer (n = 13), and the most common hematological malignancies were non-Hodgkin B‑cell lymphoma (n = 51) and acute myeloid leukemia (n = 35). In general, G‑CSF was used to treat FN rather than as prophylaxis. Most patients had a single FN episode, predominantly in cycle 1. The mean duration of FN-related hospitalization was 7–9 days, with longer stays in patients with hematological malignancies. Results indicate considerable FN-related HCRU in all countries. Frequent lack of G‑CSF primary prophylaxis was observed, particularly in Slovakia.

Despite advances in the treatment of invasive fungal diseases (IFD), mortality rates remain high. Moreover, due to the expanding spectrum of causative agents, fast and accurate pathogen identification is necessary. We designed a panfungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which targets the highly variable ITS2 region of rDNA genes and uses high resolution melting analysis (HRM) for subsequent species identification. The sensitivity and specificity of this method was tested on a broad spectrum of the most clinically important fungal pathogens including Aspergillus spp., Candida spp. and mucormycetes. Despite the fact that fluid from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is one of the most frequently tested materials there is a lack of literature sources aimed at panfungal PCR as an IFD diagnostic tool from BAL samples. The applicability of this method in routine practice was evaluated on 104 BAL samples from immunocompromised patients. Due to high ITS region variability, we obtained divergent melting peaks for different fungal species. Thirteen out of 18 patients with proven or probable IFD were positive. Therefore, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of our method were 67%, 100%, 100%, and 94%, respectively. In our assay, fungal pathogens identification is based on HRM, therefore omitting the expensive and time consuming sequencing step. With the high specificity, positive and negative predictive values, short time needed to obtain a result, and low price, the presented assay is intended to be used as a quick screening method for patients at risk of IFD.

Purpose. Availability without prescription restriction, low cost, and simple oral administration allow cancer patients to use probiotics without knowledge of potential risks. We present a survey of probiotic use and the association with patient tumor characteristics in cancer patients treated at the outpatient department of the National Cancer Institute in Slovakia. Patients and Methods. Between March and December 2014, 499 patients were asked to evaluate their overall experience with probiotics by questionnaire form, including the length and method of use relative to anticancer therapy, expectations, side-effect experiences, understanding of the possible risks, dietary supplement use, and others. The relevant data were statistically evaluated. Results. The cohort consisted of 323 women (64.7%) and 176 men (35.3%); 91.6% were undergoing chemotherapy (2.6% together with radiotherapy) and 8.4% had no anticancer therapy. The prevalence of probiotic use was 28.5% and only 12 patients using probiotics (8.5%) described negative side effects. Most patients declared consideration of probiotic use based on recommendation from a physician (37.3%) or a pharmacist (14.8%). Nevertheless, up to 86.6% of patients declared no knowledge of possible risks. Statistically significant correlation was found between probiotic use and age of patients (P < .008), gender (P < .023), and taking other dietary supplements (P < .000002). Conclusions. In this prospective study, we present for the first time the prevalence, side-effect experience, and aspects that most likely influence probiotic use in cancer patients. Minimal knowledge of risks underlines the importance of an active approach by oncologists to inform patients about probiotic safety.

BackgroundMucormycosis is a difficult to diagnose rare disease with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is often delayed, and disease tends to progress rapidly. Urgent surgical and medical intervention is lifesaving. Guidance on the complex multidisciplinary management has potential to improve prognosis, but approaches differ between health care settings.MethodsFrom January 2018, authors from 33 countries in all United Nations regions analysed the published evidence on mucormycosis management and provided consensus recommendations addressing differences between the regions of the world as part of the “One World One Guideline” initiative of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM). The author group based in 17 time zones, relied on electronic media including video tutorial on methodology, and central document repository with several daily updates.FindingsSigns and symptoms of mucormycosis depend on organ patterns and underlying conditions. Diagnostic management does not differ greatly between world regions. Upon suspicion of mucormycosis appropriate imaging is strongly recommended to document extent of disease and is followed by strongly recommended surgical intervention. First-line treatment with high-dose liposomal amphotericin B is strongly recommended, while intravenous isavuconazole and intravenous or delayed release tablet posaconazole are recommended with moderate strength. Both triazoles are strongly recommended salvage treatments. Amphotericin B deoxycholate is recommended against, because of substantial toxicity, but may be the only option in resource limited settings.InterpretationManagement of mucormycosis depends on recognising disease patterns and on early diagnosis. Limited availability of contemporary treatments burdens patients in low and middle income settings. Areas of uncertainty were identified and future research directions specified.

Transplantation activity is increasing, leading to a growing number of patients at risk for toxoplasmosis. We reviewed toxoplasmosis prevention practices, prevalence, and outcomes for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and solid organ transplant (SOT; heart, kidney, or liver) patients in Europe. We collected electronic data on the transplant population and prevention guidelines/regulations and clinical data on toxoplasmosis cases diagnosed during 2010-2014. Serologic pretransplant screening of allo-hematopoietic stem cell donors was performed in 80% of countries, screening of organ donors in 100%. SOT recipients were systematically screened in 6 countries. Targeted anti-Toxoplasma chemoprophylaxis was heterogeneous. A total of 87 toxoplasmosis cases were recorded (58 allo-HSCTs, 29 SOTs). The 6-month survival rate was lower among Toxoplasma-seropositive recipients and among allo-hematopoietic stem cell and liver recipients. Chemoprophylaxis improved outcomes for SOT recipients. Toxoplasmosis remains associated with high mortality rates among transplant recipients. Guidelines are urgently needed to standardize prophylactic regimens and optimize patient management.

Rapid diagnostics of fungal pneumonia and initiation of appropriate therapy are still challenging. In this study, we used two panfungal assays to test bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples to prove their ability to confirm invasive fungal disease diagnosis and identify causative agents. Two methods targeting different fungal rDNA regions were used, and the obtained PCR products were sequenced directly or after cloning. In total, 106 BALF samples from 104 patients were tested. After sequencing, we obtained 578 sequences. Four hundred thirty-seven sequences were excluded from further analysis due to duplication (n = 335) or similarity with sequences detected in the extraction control sample (n = 102); 141 unique sequences were analyzed. Altogether, 23/141 (16%) of the fungi detected belonged to pathogenic species, and 63/141 (45%) were identified as various yeasts; a variety of environmental or very rare fungal human pathogens represented 29/141 (21%) of the total and 26/141 (18%) were described as uncultured fungus. Panfungal PCR detected fungal species that would be missed by specific methods in only one case (probable cryptococcosis). Panfungal PCR followed by sequencing has limited use for testing BALF samples due to frequent commensal or environmental fungal species pickup.

Myeloid sarcoma is a rare presentation of acute leukemia as a solid tumor at various extramedullary sites. It may present concurrently, before or after the onset of systemic bone marrow leukemia. Unusual clinical localization may lead to misdiagnosis, or delayed diagnosis and treatment. We describe the first case, to our knowledge, of de novo myeloid sarcoma of the breast confirmed as acute promyelocytic leukemia. Immunohistochemical analysis, flow cytometry, fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis and molecular analysis using RQ-PCR of tissue samples should be routine in determining the correct diagnosis in this setting.

Summary Purpose Diarrhea is one of the dose limiting toxicity of irinotecan. SN-38 is main irinotecan metabolite responsible for diarrhea development, which is excreted in glucuronidated form into the intestine. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the probiotics in the prevention of irinotecan induced diarrhea due to reduction of intestinal beta-d-glucuronidase activity. Methods Between January 2011 and December 2013, 46 patients with colorectal cancer starting a new line of irinotecan based therapy were included. Patients were randomized 1:1 to probiotics (PRO) or placebo (PLA). Probiotic formula Colon Dophilus™, was administered at a dose of 10×10 9 CFU of bacteria tid, orally for 12 weeks of chemotherapy. The study was prematurely terminated due to slow accrual, when 46 of 220 planned patients were accrued. Results Twenty-three patients were randomized to PRO and 23 patients to PLA. Administration of probiotics compared to placebo led to a reduction in the incidence of severe diarrhea of grade 3 or 4 (0% for PRO vs. 17.4% for PLA, p =0.11), as well as reduction of the overall incidence of diarrhea (39.1% for PRO vs. 60.9% for PLA, p =0.24) and incidence of enterocolitis (0% for PRO vs. 8.7% for PLA). Patients on PRO used less antidiarrheal drugs compared to PLA. There was no infection caused by probiotic strains recorded. Conclusions Administration of probiotics in patients with colorectal cancer treated with irinotecan-based chemotherapy is safe and could lead to a reduction in the incidence and severity of gastrointestinal toxicity.

Background The present review is part of the ESCMID Study Group for Infections in Compromised Hosts (ESGICH) Consensus Document on the safety of targeted and biological therapies. Aims To review, from an Infectious Diseases perspective, the safety profile of agents targeting CD22, CD30, CD33, CD38, CD40, SLAMF-7 and CCR4 and to suggest preventive recommendations. Sources Computer-based MEDLINE searches with MeSH terms pertaining to each agent or therapeutic family. Content The risk and spectrum of infections in patients receiving CD22-targeted agents (i.e. inotuzumab ozogamicin) are similar to those observed with anti-CD20 antibodies. Anti-Pneumocystis prophylaxis and monitoring for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is recommended for patients receiving CD30-targeted agents (brentuximab vedotin). Due to the scarcity of data, the risk posed by CD33-targeted agents (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) cannot be assessed. Patients receiving CD38-targeted agents (i.e. daratumumab) face an increased risk of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection. Therapy with CD40-targeted agents (lucatumumab or dacetuzumab) is associated with opportunistic infections similar to those observed in hyper-IgM syndrome, and prevention strategies (including anti-Pneumocystis prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy for CMV infection) are warranted. SLAMF-7 (CD319)-targeted agents (elotuzumab) induce lymphopenia and increase the risk of infection (particularly due to VZV). The impact of CCR4-targeted agents (mogamulizumab) on infection susceptibility is difficult to distinguish from the effect of underlying diseases and concomitant therapies. However, anti-Pneumocystis and anti-herpesvirus prophylaxis and screening for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are recommended. Implications Specific management strategies should be put in place to reduce the risk and/or the severity of infectious complications associated to the reviewed agents.

Contains fulltext : 190513.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) OBJECTIVES: Fluoroquinolone (FQ) prophylaxis was recommended in 2005 by European Conference on Infections in Leukemia (ECIL) for patients with prolonged neutropenia. In consideration of a worldwide increase in antibiotic resistance, the issue of FQ prophylaxis during neutropenia was re-evaluated. METHODS: Literature review of randomised controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies published in years 2006-2014 was performed. Their results were analysed in meta-analysis. Meta-regression model was applied to evaluate whether the rates of FQ resistance in community and hospital settings influenced the efficacy of FQ prophylaxis. The impact of FQ prophylaxis on colonisation and infection with resistant bacteria was reviewed. RESULTS: Two RCTs and 12 observational studies were identified. FQ prophylaxis did not have effect on mortality (pooled OR 1.01, 95%CI 0.73-1.41), but was associated with lower rate of bloodstream infections (BSI) (pooled OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.43-0.74) and episodes of fever during neutropenia (pooled OR 0.32, 95%CI 0.20-0.50). No effect of the background rate of FQ resistance on the efficacy of FQ prophylaxis was observed. In few studies, FQ prophylaxis resulted in an increased colonisation or infection with FQ- or multi-drug resistant strains. CONCLUSIONS: The possible benefits of FQ prophylaxis on BSI rate, but not on overall mortality, should be weighed against its impact in terms of toxicity and changes in local ecology in single centres.

Background The present review is part of the ESCMID Study Group for Infections in Compromised Hosts (ESGICH) Consensus Document on the safety of targeted and biological therapies. Aims To review, from an Infectious Diseases perspective, the safety profile of agents targeting CD19, CD20 and CD52 and to suggest preventive recommendations. Sources Computer-based MEDLINE searches with MeSH terms pertaining to each agent or therapeutic family. Content Although CD19-targeted agents (blinatumomab or inebilizumab) are not associated with an increased risk of infection, they may cause IgG hypogammaglobulinaemia and neutropenia. The requirement for prolonged intravenous infusion of blinatumomab may increase the risk of catheter-associated bloodstream infections. Infection remains the most common non-haematological adverse effect of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, including severe respiratory tract infection, hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation and varicella-zoster virus infection. Screening for chronic or resolved HBV infection is recommended for patients receiving anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. Antiviral prophylaxis should be offered for 12–18 months to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and HBsAg-negative/anti-hepatitis B core antibody (HBc)-positive patients. Anti-Pneumocystis prophylaxis should be considered in patients receiving concomitant chemotherapy, particularly steroids. Alemtuzumab (anti-CD52) increases the risk of infections, in particular among leukaemia and solid organ transplant patients. These populations benefit from anti-Pneumocystis prophylaxis, prevention strategies for cytomegalovirus infection, and screening for HBV, hepatitis C virus and tuberculosis. Antiviral prophylaxis for at least 6–12 months should be provided for HBsAg-positive patients. Implications As there are limited clinical data for many of the reviewed agents, special attention must be given to promptly detect and report emerging infectious complications.

Background Experiencing cancer is a highly stressful (traumatic) life-event which can lead to development of PTSD. PTSD can evolve after trauma in predisposed individuals, after being triggered by risk factors. The aim of this paper is to analyze the level of PTSD in patients with cancer in the context of other potential risk factors. Methods Three path models were analyzed in a sample of patients with cancer (N = 216). The models were focused on development of PTSD (PCL-5) in the context of psychological distress (SCL-90), personality traits (EPQ-R), perceived cognitive deficit (FACT-Cog), social support (BSSS), stressful life events, and selected socio-demographic, anamnestic, and medical variables. Mediation and moderation effects were also examined in the tested models. Results Two models explained 63% of the variation in PTSD, while one model explained 60% of the PTSD variation as well as 23% of the variation in perceived cognitive deficits. All 3 models revealed that neuroticism and psychological distress had a statistically significant positive influence on the level of PTSD. In all 3 models, it was found that neuroticism influenced PTSD directly and also indirectly by means of a higher level of psychological distress. Specifically, it was found that this relation depends on the time passed since the patients were diagnosed with cancer and also on the history of mental disorders. In patients with history of mental disorders and in the patients with a lower level of social support, a statistically significant positive influence of stressful life events on PTSD was found. Conclusion The Results draw attention to the possible mechanisms of the PTSD development under different combinations of individual risk factors. These findings offer not only new suggestions for the future research but provide also valuable implications for clinical practice.

Summary Background: Probiotics are live microorganisms, which as drugs or food supplements help to maintain health beneficial microbial balance in the digestive tract of a human or other host. Probiotics by their properties may help strengthen homeostasis and thus reduce side effects associated with cancer treatment. Experimental evidence suggests that probiotics might have beneficial effect on the toxicity of anticancer therapy. Methods: A computer-based literature search was carried out using PubMed (keywords: ‘‘probiotic’’ and ‘‘lactic acid bacteria’’ in association with the search terms ‘‘cancer’’ or ,,oncology’’ or ‘‘chemotherapy’’ or ‘‘radiation’’); data reported at international meetings were included. Results: Probiotics might have beneficial effects on some aspects of toxicity related to anticancer treatment especially radiation therapy. However, reported trials vary in utilized probiotic strains, dose of probiotics and vast majority of them are small trials with substantial risk of bias. Despite limited data, it seems that probiotic bacteria as live microorganisms could be safely administered even in the setting of neutropenia. Conclusions: Current evidence supporting probiotic use as adjunctive therapy to anticancer treatment is limited, especially in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Well designed clinical trials are needed to find true role of probiotics in oncology.

Contains fulltext : 126184.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) Timing of treatment for invasive fungal disease (IFD) is critical for making appropriate clinical decisions. Historically, many centres have treated at-risk patients prior to disease detection to try to prevent fungal colonization or in response to antibiotic-resistant fever. Many studies have indicated that a diagnostic-driven approach, using radiological tests and biomarkers to guide treatment decisions, may be a more clinically relevant and cost-effective approach. The Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) defined host clinical and mycological criteria for proven, probable and possible classes of IFD, to aid diagnosis. However, some patients at risk of IFD do not meet EORTC/MSG criteria and have been termed Groups B (patients with persistent unexplained febrile neutropenia) and C (patients with non-definitive signs of IFD) in a study by Maertens et al. (Haematologica 2012; 97: 325-7). Consequently, we considered the most appropriate triggers (clinical or radiological signs or biomarkers) for treatment of all patient groups, especially the unclassified B and C groups, based on our clinical experience. For Group C patients, additional diagnostic testing is recommended before a decision to treat, including repeat galactomannan tests, radiological scans and analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Triggers for stopping antifungal treatment were considered to include resolution of all clinical signs and symptoms. For Group B patients, it was concluded that better definition of risk factors predisposing patients to fungal infection and the use of more sensitive diagnostic tests are required to aid treatment decisions and improve clinical outcomes. 01 november 2013

Purpose This double-blind, multicenter trial compared the efficacy and safety of a single daily oral dose of moxifloxacin with oral combination therapy in low-risk febrile neutropenic patients with cancer. Patients and Methods Inclusion criteria were cancer, febrile neutropenia, low risk of complications as predicted by a Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score > 20, ability to swallow, and ≤ one single intravenous dose of empiric antibiotic therapy before study drug treatment initiation. Early discharge was encouraged when a set of predefined criteria was met. Patients received either moxifloxacin (400 mg once daily) monotherapy or oral ciprofloxacin (750 mg twice daily) plus amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (1,000 mg twice daily). The trial was designed to show equivalence of the two drug regimens in terms of therapy success, defined as defervescence and improvement in clinical status during study drug treatment (< 10% difference). Results Among the 333 patients evaluated in an intention-to-treat analysis, therapy success was observed in 80% of the patients administered moxifloxacin and in 82% of the patients administered combination therapy (95% CI for the difference, −10% to 8%, consistent with equivalence). Minor differences in tolerability, safety, and reasons for failure were observed. More than 50% of the patients in the two arms were discharged on protocol therapy, with 5% readmissions among those in either arm. Survival was similar (99%) in both arms. Conclusion Monotherapy with once daily oral moxifloxacin is efficacious and safe in low-risk febrile neutropenic patients identified with the help of the MASCC scoring system, discharged early, and observed as outpatients.

Summary Objectives To evaluate risk factors, diagnostic procedures, and treatment outcomes of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients with hematological malignancies. Methods A retrospective analysis of data from proven/probable IA cases that occurred from 2005 to 2009 at 10 hematology centers was performed. Results We identified 176 IA cases that mainly occurred in patients with acute leukemias (58.5%), mostly those on induction/re-induction treatments (39.8%). Prolonged neutropenia was the most frequent risk factor for IA (61.4%). The lungs were the most frequently affected site (93.8%) and computed tomography detected abnormalities in all episodes; however, only 53.7% of patients had findings suggestive of IA. Galactomannan (GM) detection in serum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (positive in 79.1% and 78.8% of episodes, respectively) played a crucial role in IA diagnosis. Neutrophil count and antifungal prophylaxis did not influence the GM positivity rate, but empirical therapy decreased this rate (in serum). Of the IA cases, 53.2% responded to initial antifungal therapy. The combination of voriconazole and echinocandin, even as initial or salvage therapy, did not perform better than voriconazole monotherapy ( p =0.924 for initial therapy and p =0.205 for salvage therapy). Neutrophil recovery had a significant role in the response to initial (but not salvage) antifungal therapy. Conclusions Our retrospective analysis identified key diagnostic and treatment characteristics, and this understanding could improve the management of hematological malignancy patients with IA.

Probiotics are live microorganisms, which as drugs or food supplements help to maintain health beneficial microbial balance in the digestive tract of a human or other host. Probiotics by their properties may help strengthen homeostasis and thus reduce side effects associated with cancer treatment. Experimental evidence suggest that probiotics might have beneficial effect on the toxicity of anticancer therapy. Probiotics might have beneficial effects on some aspects of toxicity related to anticancer treatment especially radiation therapy. However, reported trial varies in utilized probiotic strains and dose of probiotics, and vast majority of them are small trials with substantial risk of bias. Despite limited data, it seems that probiotic bacteria as live microorganisms could be safely administered even in setting of prolonged neutropenia. Current evidence supporting probiotic use as adjunctive therapy to anticancer treatment is limited, especially in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Well designed clinical trials are needed to find true role of probiotics in oncology.

The efficacy and safety of aminoglycosides given in combination with β-lactams for the treatment of febrile neutropaenia in patients with acute leukaemia or bone marrow transplantation was assessed using an evidence-based review of the literature with the aim to formulate treatment guidelines. These recommendations have been developed by an expert panel of the European Conference on Infections in Leukaemic patients (ECIL-1). We also present results of a questionnaire on current treatment practice in Europe. The expert panel concluded that β-lactam monotherapy is as efficacious as and less toxic than β-lactam-aminoglycoside combination therapy as empirical therapy. The choice of β-lactam should be based on local epidemiological data, antibiotic resistance patterns, recent β-lactam use and available evidence. Combination therapy should be reserved for patients presenting with severe sepsis or septic shock or for those with a high suspicion of resistant Gram-negative infections, pending susceptibility testing and institution of appropriate β-lactam monotherapy.

In this short communication we compared the data of fungaemia cases in Slovak hospitals from 1989-1998 published in 1999-2000 with data from 2005-2011.Risk factors, etiology and outcome of fungaemia between two periods (1989-1998 vs. 2005-2011) were compared and risk factors for death assessed by univariate analysis (CDC 2006 Statistical Package).In comparison to 1989-1998 when only amphotericin B and fluconazole has been used (55%), in 2005-2011 only 35.2% patients received FLU, but 26.4% received voriconazole, 22% caspofungin and anidulafungin and about 6.6% lipid formulations of Amphotericin B. In etiology, while in 1989-1998 only 37.1% (115/310) represented non-albicans Candida (NAC) and non-Candida yeasts in 2005-2011 already reached 63.7%. The significant increase of breakthrough fungaemia may be a sign of inappropriate empiric therapy.

The objective of this retrospective, multicenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of micafungin as empirical antifungal therapy during febrile neutropenia (FN) in 73 hematological patients from six centers in two countries. All patients received 100 mg of micafungin/day. The overall favorable response rate (RR) was 64.8% when the resolution of fever during neutropenia was included in the response criteria and 84.5% when excluded. A significantly lower favorable RR in patients with persistent fever and non-specific pulmonary infiltrates compared to patients with persistent fever only (82.8 vs. 52.4%, respectively; p = 0.011) was not found when resolution of fever was not included in the composite endpoint criteria (93.1 vs. 78.6%, respectively; p = 0.180). Breakthrough fungal disease developed in 2.7% of patients. Treatment was discontinued in 16.4% of cases. Only one patient (1.4%) discontinued therapy due to an adverse event. Posaconazole prophylaxis improved favorable RR when defervescence was included as composite endpoint criterion (p = 0.047), but not when it was excluded (p = 0.485). However, neutrophil recovery did not influence favorable RR (p = 0.803 and p = 0.112, respectively). These data suggest that micafungin is safe and effective as an empirical therapy in patients with FN.

Item does not contain fulltext Invasive fungal diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Patients with haematological malignancies and solid cancers, as well as those with allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplants, are at high risk of developing such an infection. Many fungi can cause invasive disease, with Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. being the prevalent fungal pathogens infecting susceptible patients. During the past few years, rare moulds (for example Zygomycetes and Fusarium spp.) have come into focus as the cause of devastating clinical disease. This review aims to analyse environmental factors and parameters related to impairment of the immune system that are thought to favour the onset of invasive mould infections. Some moulds are quite common among all categories of patients, while others appear to be limited to a given subset of patients, such as allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplant recipients. In addition to an exploration of factors that predispose patients to the acquisition of an invasive mould infection, prognostic factors that help to predict the eventual outcome of these infections are identified. 01 januari 2011