An alternative antifungal option for the ICU: Meet CRESEMBA^®

Almost half of all cases of invasive aspergillosis and a high proportion of mucormycosis cases are diagnosed or treated in the ICU^1,2

Whilst diagnostics and treatment have progressed, invasive fungal infections continue to pose a serious threat and are associated with extremely high mortality.^3–6

Invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis typically affect individuals who are immunocompromised and/or have established risk factors,^2,7–10 but cases are also being reported in critically ill patients admitted to the ICU.^7,8,10 Establishing a diagnosis in this setting can be challenging as the classic diagnostic definitions (EORTC/MSGERC) for invasive fungal disease were created primarily for patients with cancer and stem cell or solid organ transplant,^7,11 and the ICU patient population may present with different features.^11–13

An emerging association between COVID-19 and pulmonary aspergillosis/mucormycosis^14–18

The global pandemic has shown that invasive mould infections such as aspergillosis and mucormycosis can represent an additional threat to COVID-19 patients who are admitted to the ICU or develop ARDS:^14–18 cases of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) and COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) are increasingly being reported.¹⁹ Clinical and radiological signs of CAPA and CAM can overlap – and there have been reports of simultaneous mixed superinfection.^18–20​

How can CRESEMBA® help your patients?

In the complicated clinical scenario ICU patients often find themselves in, think CRESEMBA®:

• Improved safety and tolerability vs voriconazole²⁷
   
• A linear PK profile with low inter- and intra-patient variability, unlike other azoles^3,28–30
   
• Fewer drug–drug interactions vs other azoles^3,28
   
• Simple and reliable dosing²⁸

ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; BMT, bone marrow transplant; CAM, COVID-19-associated mucormycosis; CAPA, COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; EORTC/MSGERC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium; ESRD, end-stage renal disease; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; ICU, intensive care unit; PK, pharmacokinetic.

Prescribing Information:
CRESEMBA® (isavuconazole)

References: