Antifungal Stewardship: Time to Reappraise the Priorities toward Increasing Invasive Fungal Infections

Excessive prescription of antifungal medications heightens the risk of adverse effects and drug interactions for patients while also fostering the development of resistant fungal strains. Moreover, antifungal agents rank among the most expensive antimicrobial drugs in hospital inventories, and the populations vulnerable to invasive fungal diseases are expanding. These factors collectively contribute to elevated mortality rates and extended hospital stays among affected populations. While the global community has placed a growing emphasis on the significance of antibiotic stewardship to combat the rise of the growing antibiotic resistance threat in the past few years, antifungal stewardship (AFS) has garnered comparatively less attention. The present review article focuses on the essential elements of AFS in three common invasive fungal infections: candidemia, aspergillosis, and mucormycosis.