The role of immunostimulation in the treatment of invasive fungal infection

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) constitute a severe and increasing problem in an expanding patient population with immunodeficiency due to various reasons. Despite current management strategies, IFI remain a common and frequently devastating problem. New antifungals have been introduced in the medical armamentarium, but the results in patients’ survival are not yet optimal. The compromised host defense mechanisms of these patients contribute to the high failure rates. Immunoregulation includes strategies for restoration or augmentation of impaired immune responses that increase phagocytes’ number or enhance their function. Although there are extensive preclinical data, clinical investigations are very limited. Administration of certain beneficial cytokines, antibodies and other immune molecules, granulocyte transfusions, and stimulation of adaptive immunity through vaccination are potential, promising future preventive and therapeutic modalities and could be adjuncts to antifungal therapy for IFI. This review highlights and comments on preclinical and clinical studies published since 2005.