New drugs for infections in patients with cancer.

BACKGROUND

During the past several years, the treatment and prevention of infections in patients with cancer have improved because of the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

METHODS

A representative antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral drug is discussed.

RESULTS

The fluoroquinolone compounds, such as ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin, have broad spectrum bactericidal activity and have proved to be effective in both the treatment and prevention of certain infections in patients with cancer. The triazole drug fluconazole is useful in the treatment of oral, esophageal, and disseminated candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis. Early studies suggest that a new acyclic nucleoside, ganciclovir, has some effect in the treatment of cytomegalovirus infections, but its precise use in patients with cancer has not been fully established.

CONCLUSIONS

New drugs currently available to the practitioner will improve management of infections in patients with cancer, but none is totally effective and the search for new compounds must continue.