Posaconazole (POS) prophylaxis for the management of infuenza-associated aspergillosis (IAA) in critically ill patients

It has recently been demonstrated that severe influenza (SI) is an independent risk-factor for developing influenza-associated aspergillosis (IAA), having a very high mortality of 45-60%. Currently, standard of care (SOC) consists of close follow-up of these critically ill SI patients with high diagnostic awareness for IAA. Posaconazole (POS) prophylaxis has reduced the prevalence of invasive aspergillosis to less than 2% in haematological patients. In this C3-project, we aim to deliver robust proof-of-concept that antifungal POS prophylaxis leads to decreased incidence of IAA and to a 2-to-3-fold reduction of IAA-associated mortality (20%) compared to SOC (40-65%). Additionally, we will incorporate and validate a new point-of-care diagnostic test and we will monitor POS exposure during antifungal prophylaxis. This C3 project will increase leverage towards expanding bilateral contract research between pharmaceutical companies and KU Leuven and towards novel Horizon 2020 projects.

Keywords:severe influenza, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, critical illness, antifungal prophylaxis, pharmacokinetics

Disciplines:Laboratory medicine, Palliative care and end-of-life care, Regenerative medicine, Other basic sciences, Other health sciences, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Other translational sciences, Other medical and health sciences