title: A randomized study comparing fluconazole with amphotericin B/5-flucytosine for the treatment of systemic Candida infections in intensive care patients.
abstract: In this prospective, randomized study fluconazole and amphotericin B/5-flucytosine were compared in the treatment of systemic candidiasis. Seventy-two non-neutropenic intensive care patients with systemic Candida infections were enrolled. Thirty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive fluconazole (400 mg on the first day then 200 mg) and 36 were randomized to amphotericin B/5-flucytosine (1.0-1.5 mg/kg body weight every other day and 3 x 2.5 g flucytosine/day) for 14 days following the diagnosis. There was no statistically significant difference in clinical outcome in regard to the treatment of pneumonia and sepsis: 18/28 of the patients were treated successfully with fluconazole and 17/27 with amphotericin B/5-flucytosine. For the treatment of peritonitis, however, amphotericin B/5-flucytosine was more effective than fluconazole (55% vs. 25%). Furthermore, amphotericin B/5-flucytosine was found to be superior to fluconazole with regard to pathogen eradication (86% vs. 50%). Fluconazole was associated with less toxicity than amphotericin B/5-flucytosine.
authors.affiliation: Max-von-Pettenkofer Institut, München, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abele-Horn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohly
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dauber
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Russwurm
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Büchinger
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nagengast
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emmerling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003422:Critical Care; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016469:Fungemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole; D005437:Flucytosine