Clinical Practice Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of histoplasmosis among adults Living with HIV – abridged version

Abstract

Histoplasmosis is the fungal infection caused, in humans, by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma spp., which most frequently affects people with compromised immune system. In people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and are in an advanced stage of the disease, histoplasmosis is an opportunistic infection of great importance, due to its frequency of presentation, and consequent impact on morbidity, mortality and high costs. The global problem of antimicrobial resistance, to which the inappropriate or indiscriminate use of antifungals contributes, has put Histoplasma spp. in the spotlight. It is important to generate guidelines that guide the appropriate use of antifungals in the management of histoplasmosis, with the aim of obtaining better clinical outcomes and promoting rational use of antifungals. This guide contains recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of histoplasmosis in adults living with HIV, based on evidence, obtained through the process of adapting international clinical practice guidelines to the Colombian context.