Invasive Fungal Disease and Antifungals

      Through Global Collaboration

 

The incidence of pediatric invasive fungal disease is increasing.  Coordinated clinical and laboratory investigative efforts have enhanced our understanding of fungal disease and improved the treatment of adult patients.  However, most of these efforts have not incorporated children and neonates.  Pediatric exclusion has limited our knowledge of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of pediatric fungal disease and has resulted in a paucity of data regarding the safety and efficacy of pediatric antifungal therapy.  Previous pediatric cooperative models in other disciplines, including the Children’s Oncology Group and the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group, have successfully advanced our understanding and treatments of other childhood diseases.

The multi-center International Pediatric Fungal Network (PFN) was created to gain a complete understanding of the scope and character of pediatric fungal infections in order to improve the care of our patients.  The primary mission of the PFN is to increase the knowledge of pediatric invasive fungal infections and discern any undescribed characteristics or outcomes unique to pediatric patients through a coordinated network of scientific investigation.  In addition to advancing our understanding of the fundamental epidemiology of pediatric invasive fungal infections, the PFN will serve as an effective vehicle of cohesive investigators and centers to conduct ground-breaking diagnostic and therapeutic clinical trials focused on pediatric fungal infections, diagnostic surrogates, and antifungals.  Clinical information on patients is captured through a secure electronic portal to maximize efficiency of data collection and analysis.  Investigators are linked through conference calls and meetings to both plan future studies and analyze results.