Projects
Posaconazole (POS) prophylaxis for the management of infuenza-associated aspergillosis (IAA) in critically ill patients KU Leuven
A novel integrated multi-omics based approach to the management of viral-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (VAPA) KU Leuven
The overall aim of my research program is to improve the management and outcome of critically ill VAPA patients. VAPA is a fungal superinfection of severe viral influenza or COVID-19 and its incidence is estimated between 10-20% in critically ill patients, with an associated mortality, even under antifungal therapy, that is 2-fold higher compared to influenza/COVID-19 patients without aspergillosis. This indicates that the current management ...
The co-pathogenesis of severe influenza and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. KU Leuven
Evidence of the last decades supports the establishment of severe influenza as an important risk factor for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) development on intensive care units (ICU). Similar to influenza, invasive mould infections were observed in COVID-19 critically ill patients, though at a lower frequency and with more debate on the clinical relevance of the diagnosis. We therefore aimed to investigate IPA in ICU patients with ...
Triazole-resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus: evolving epidemiology and influence on disease progression. KU Leuven
Aspergilli are ubiquitous fungi found in the environment and cause a whole spectrum of human diseases including invasive life threatening infections in immunocompromised hosts, like cancer or transplant patients. Triazole antifungal drugs are currently the cornerstones of prophylaxis and treatment of Aspergillus-related diseases but global emergence of triazole resistance is a concern. Exposure of Aspergillus fumigatus to ...
Improving prevention and treatment strategies concerning opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hematologic patients KU Leuven
Focus on overtreatment in presumptive bacterial infections is increasing, while in the world of fungi and parasitic opportunistic infections sub-optimal treatment and delayed treatment initiation remains an important problem. There is often a delay in diagnostics because of the use of less sensitive tests such as fungal culture. These are time-consuming tests that are often only associated late. These opportunistic infections have high ...