title: Efficacy of continuous flucytosine infusion against Candida lusitaniae in experimental hematogenous murine candidiasis.
abstract: Candida lusitaniae may cause life-threatening infections in the immunocompromised host and may be resistant to amphotericin B. Flucytosine (5-FC) is very active against C. lusitaniae isolates in vitro, while the in vivo response of murine infection to 5-FC is not as good. To evaluate the hypothesis that this discrepancy may be primarily due to the short half-life of 5-FC in mice, we compared the same total dosage of 75 mg of 5-FC per kg of body weight per day given by bolus injections or infused continuously via a subcutaneously implanted pump in immunosuppressed CF1 mice infected with C. lusitaniae. The fungal titers in the kidneys of mice treated with the continuous 5-FC infusion were significantly lower (P < or = 0.05) than those in the kidneys of mice that received bolus injections once or thrice daily. The antifungal activity of 5-FC against murine candidiasis is best evaluated when the drug is administered by continuous infusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Specialties, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Karyotakis
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Anaissie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D005437:Flucytosine