Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40493030›Full record

SynthesisThe Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy2025

Liposomal amphotericin B prophylaxis in paediatrics: a systematic review.

Emma V Thorley, Jennifer Hatch, Monica Li, Sharlene N Mashida, Elio Castagnola, Alessio Mesini, Thomas Lehrnbecher, Andreas H Groll, Adilia Warris, Laura Ferreras-Antolin

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Emma V ThorleyCentre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, City St. George's, University of London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7153-2547
Jennifer HatchPharmacy Department, St George's University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Monica LiPharmacy Department, St George's University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Sharlene N MashidaPaediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, St George's University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Elio CastagnolaInfectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5336-8429
Alessio MesiniInfectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0593-4112
Thomas LehrnbecherDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Hemostaseology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany.
Andreas H GrollInfectious Disease Research Program, Centre for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Münster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1188-393X
Adilia WarrisMRC Centre for Medical Mycology, Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6586-3358
Laura Ferreras-AntolinCentre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, City St. George's, University of London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2871-1747

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLiposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) is widely used for prophylaxis in paediatric patients at high risk of invasive fungal diseases (IFD) but its use is off-label and there is significant variability in dosage and frequency. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the published data on prophylactic LAmB use in the paediatric population and to present the reported proportions of breakthrough IFD and the associated toxicity profile.

methodsEMBASE, Medline, Web of Science and the Cochrane Database were systematically searched for primary research reporting on the use of LAmB as prophylaxis for IFD in the paediatric population up to 7 December 2023, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

resultsTwenty studies, comprising three clinical trials, 12 cohort studies, two point-prevalence surveys and three pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, with 2015 patients were included. A total of 717 cases presented individual patient data. Breakthrough IFD occurred in 7.2% (49/676). The most recognized side effects were hypokalaemia in 23.2% (125/538) and derangement of liver function tests in 15.0% (49/327). Discontinuation due to toxicity occurred in 6.0% (30/503) of patients. Of the four studies reporting PK data, two examined serum levels of LAmB, one analysed CSF levels and the remaining study peritoneal levels.

conclusionsDespite widespread use of prophylactic LAmB, this systematic review highlights the paucity of paediatric data supporting its use. The heterogeneity observed in populations, dosing regimens and study design prevents conclusions being reached on its efficacy or the superiority of one dosing regimen. Overall, there is a clear need for further high-quality robust clinical data and targeted PK studies.

Indexed as

Amphotericin BAntifungal AgentsInvasive Fungal InfectionsChildChild, PreschoolHumansInfantAmphotericin BAntifungal Agentsliposomal amphotericin B

Identifiers

PMID40493030
PMCPMC12209837

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.