Immunotherapy and Antifungal Drugs of Candidiasis: Achievements and Challenges

Candida albicans is the most common cause of invasive candidiasis, but in recent years the incidence of infections caused by other species such as Candida Kruzei, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis and Candida lusitania has increased. In the last decade, the treatment methods for invasive candidiasis have changed completely, and a successful treatment depends on the timely start of treatment, the selection of an effective drug, and the lack of resistance of the fungus to that particular drug. On the other hand, the widespread use of immunosuppressive drugs as well as organ transplants has all caused widespread problems in the treatment of invasive candidiasis. Together, these observations highlight a rationale for the immediate development of new immunotherapy methods to enhance antifungal therapy in immunocompromised hosts. The past decade has seen great advances in our understanding of fungal immunobiology, leading to a number of new molecular and cellular immunotherapy methods for invasive fungal infections. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review the common and new antifungal drugs in the treatment of invasive candidiasis and to discuss the role of immunotherapy in better prevention and control of the disease.