Efficacy of oral fluconazole in the treatment of cancer patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis

ABSTRACT

The present prospective non comparative study included 30 evaluable cancer patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis treated in NEMROCK. All patients received either systemic chemotherapy [81%] or oropharyngeal radiation therapy [19%]. The majority of cases [81%] were enrolled after [culture proven failure] other antifungal agents used to control oropharyngeal candidiasis. All patients were treated by oral fluconazole and an initial dose of 50-100 mg/day for a median period of 12 days [range 7-28 days]. Side effects were generally mild including nausea, abdominal pains and heart burn being observed in 5 patients with none of them needing dose reduction of fluconazole. Complete cure was achieved in 80% of the patients and mycologic eradication was documented in 60%, whereas reinfection was seen in 10%