Key clinical point: Azacytidine-treated patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are at significant risk for invasive fungal infection (IFI) with a corresponding higher risk for mortality, warranting mold-spectrum prophylaxis in these patients.
Major finding: Overall, 7.7% of patients developed IFI at a rate of 10.9% in patients who did not receive fungal prophylaxis. IFI was associated with a significantly higher risk for death (hazard ratio, 8.37; P less than .0001).
Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study of 117 patients receiving 5-azacytidine for MDS and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia.
Disclosures: The study was funded by a Monash Haematology research grant. B Rogers and J Shortt declared being on advisory boards and receiving research grants, speaker, and consultation fees from various sources.
Source: Tey A et al. Eur J Haematol . 2021 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13631