Prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections including both yeasts and moulds

Clinical criteria:

  • Patient must be considered at high risk of developing an invasive fungal infection due to anticipated neutropenia (an absolute neutrophil count less than 500 cells per cubic millimetre) for at least 10 days whilst receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome; OR

  • Patient must be considered at high risk of developing an invasive fungal infection due to having acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) grade II, III or IV, or, extensive chronic GVHD, whilst receiving intensive immunosuppressive therapy after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant; OR

  • Patient must be undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant using either bone marrow from an unrelated donor or umbilical cord blood (related or unrelated), and, be considered to be at high risk of developing an invasive fungal infection during the neutropenic phase prior to engraftment.

Treatment criteria:

  • Must be treated by a health practitioner who is any of: (i) a medical practitioner, (ii) an authorised PBS prescriber who is not a medical practitioner, but who is: (a) sharing care of the patient with at least one medical practitioner; (b) intending to share care of the patient with a medical practitioner.

Note

For patients with graft versus host disease, acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, applications for an increased maximum quantity to allow for up to 1 month's treatment and repeats sufficient for up to 6 months' treatment may be authorised.

Note

For patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant, applications for an increased maximum quantity to allow for up to 1 month's treatment and repeats sufficient for up to 2 months' treatment may be authorised.