Fluconazole levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid according to daily dosage in patients with cryptococcosis and other fungal infections

ABSTRACT Fluconazole is extensively used for the treatment of candidiasis and cryptococcosis. Among other factors, successful treatment is related to appropriate fluconazole levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. In the present study, fluconazole levels were determined in 15 patients, 14 of whom had AIDS and 13 had neurocryptococcosis. The only selection criterion was treatment with fluconazole, which was performed with a generic or similar form of the drug. Fluconazole level was determined by high performance liquid chromatography and the susceptibility profile of Cryptococcus spp. isolated from the patients was assessed by broth microdilution. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid fluconazole levels were found to be related to the fluconazole daily dose, and exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentration of this antifungal for the Cryptococcus spp. isolates. A good correlation was observed between serum and cerebrospinal fluid drug concentration. In conclusion, treatment with non-original fluconazole under usual medical practice conditions results in appropriate blood and cerebrospinal fluid levels of the drug for inhibiting Cryptococcus spp. susceptible to this antifungal drug. The relatively common failures of neurocryptococcosis treatment appear not to be due to insufficient fluconazole levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, especially with the use of daily doses of 400-800 mg.

Treatment of superficial mycoses: review - part II / Atualizacao terapeutica das micoses superficiais: artigo de revisao parte II

Superficial fungal infections of the hair, skin and nails are a major cause of morbidity in the world. Choosing the right treatment is not always simple because of the possibility of drug interactions and side effects. The first part of the article discusses the main treatments for superficial mycoses - keratophytoses, dermatophytosis, candidiasis, with a practical approach to the most commonly-used topical and systemic drugs , referring also to their dosage and duration of use. Promising new, antifungal therapeutic alternatives are also highlighted, as well as available options on the Brazilian and world markets.

As infecções fúngicas superficiais dos cabelos, pele e unhas representam uma causa importante de morbidade no mundo. O tratamento nem sempre é simples, havendo dificuldade na escolha dos esquemas terapêuticos disponíveis na literatura, assim como suas possíveis interações medicamentosas e efeitos colaterais. A segunda parte do trabalho aborda os principais esquemas terapêuticos das micoses superficiais - ceratofitoses, dermatofitoses, candidíase -, possibilitando a consulta prática das drogas tópicas e sistêmicas mais utilizadas, sua dosagem e tempo de utilização. Novas possibilidades terapêuticas antifúngicas também são ressaltadas, assim como as apresentações disponíveis no mercado brasileiro e mundial.

Candida lusitaniae en un paciente pediátrico inmunocomprometido: éxito terapútico del Voriconazol / Candida lusitaniae in an immunocompromised patient: therapeutic success of Voriconazole

Candida lusitaniae es reconocida como un patógeno emergente, ocasionalmente responsable de graves infecciones nosocomiales en pacientes con compromiso inmune. Esta levadura plantea dos desafíos importantes; la posibilidad de una identificación errónea de la especie y su resistencia primaria o adquirida a la Anfotericina B. El presente trabajo informa el aislamiento en cultivos puros de C.lusitaniae desde el líquido cefalorraquídeo de un paciente pediátrico inmunocomprometido, de 5 meses de edad, hospitalizado por hidrocefalia posthemorrágia neonatal valvulada. El paciente fue tratado inicialmente con Anfotericina B, substituida posteriormente por Voriconazol. Se destaca el éxito terapéutico de éste último en la dosis usada en este caso. Luego de un prolongado período de hospitalización el paciente fue dado de alta. Consideramos que para entender la importancia clínica de esta levadura, es necesario investigaciones más completas tanto de su epidemiología como de los mecanismos de resistencia a los antifúngicos y de su frecuencia, tanto in vivo como in vitro, condiciones útiles para entender algunas de las razones de la emergencia de C. lusitaniae en clínica.

Candida lusitaniae is known to be an emerging pathogenous which is occasionally responsible for seriousnosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients.This yeast involves two significant challenges: the possibility of a wrong identification of the species and itsprimary or acquired resistance to Anfotericina B. The present paper reports the isolation of C.lusitaniae in pure cultures taken from a 5-month aged immunocompromised pediatric patient who had been diagnosed with a neonatal post hemorrhagic valvular hydrocephalus. The patient was firstly treated with Anfotericena B and later on with Voriconazole. The therapeutic success of the latter medication as used in this case is pointed out. After beinga long time in the hospital, the patient was sent home. In order to understand the clinical significance of this yeast,we think it is necessary to carry out further research work both in its epidemiology and in its antifungal drugresistance mechanisms together with its frequency in situ and in vitro,being the above requirements useful to recognize the reasons for. C lusitaniae emergence in the clinic.