Preventing fungal infections in immunocompromised patients.

The incidence of systemic fungal infections in immunosuppressed patients has increased in the past two decades (Fridkin and Jarvis, 1996). Bone marrow transplant recipients and patients with prolonged neutropenia are most at risk, particularly when environmental factors increase the presence of fungi and fungal spores. Preventive measures include air filtration, handwashing, exclusion of flowers and some foodstuffs and use of chemoprophylaxis. In April 1999, a meeting was held under the auspices of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (UK) Nurses and Allied Professionals Group to discuss the role of nurses in the management of patients at risk of systemic fungal infection. Issues discussed included: the need for nurses to recognize risk factors for systemic fungal infection; the role of nurses in giving feedback to patients; and the use of antifungal agents and associated problems, such as non-compliance and side-effects.