Risk of mortality in invasive infections by Fusarium spp in children with hemato-oncological diseases: a literature systematic review.

Abstract

Background: Studies on invasive fungal infection (IFI) by Fusarium spp in pediatric patients with hemato-oncological pathology are scarce and limited and a few series of cases described retrospectively, which makes it difficult to fully understand their characteristics and outcome. With the aim of analyzing the fatal evolution of these patients, this systematic review was carried out. Methods: The literature search was performed up to March 23, 2023, in the main databases, as Medline (through PubMed), Embase (through Embase-Elsevier), The Cochrane Library (through Wiley), Cinahl (through EbscoHOST), SCI-EXPANDED and Scielo (through WOS) and Scopus (through Scopus-Elsevier) and free (through the Google engine) and reviewing the citations of the included articles. Results: 1341 articles were retrieved, of which 931 were discarded for various reasons. By analyzing its full texts, 11 studies were finally included. It was observed that heterogeneity among them was relevant (p<0.008). Median frequency of death involved one third of those affected (Md 33%; Q1:22,7-Q4:75). Conclusions: Mortality due to IFI due to Fusarium spp was high in children with hemato-oncological pathology, especially in those with severe neutropenia and poor response to treatment of their underlying disease.