title: Treatment of intra-abdominal abscesses caused by Candida albicans with antifungal agents and recombinant murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of immunomodulation of host defense with recombinant murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rmG-CSF) on intra-abdominal abscesses caused by Candida albicans. Mice received prophylaxis or therapy with 1 microg of rmG-CSF/day in the presence or absence of antifungal treatment consisting of amphotericin B (0.75 mg/kg of body weight/day) or fluconazole (50 mg/kg/day). The number of Candida CFU in abscesses was significantly reduced (P<0.05) in mice receiving rmG-CSF prophylaxis (day -1 or day -1 through 2) compared with controls on day 8 of infection. Administration of rmG-CSF therapy alone (for 5 days starting on day 4 of infection) had no influence on the number of Candida CFU in abscesses. Amphotericin B treatment was significantly more effective than fluconazole treatment (3.41 log CFU/abscesses; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.17 log CFU/abscesses; 3.65 versus 3.90 log CFU/abscesses; 95% CI, 3.66 log CFU/abscesses, 4.16 log CFU/abscesses; P<0.05). Therapeutic administration of rmG-CSF in conjunction with an antifungal agent showed a tendency towards a further reduction of Candida CFU in abscesses than antifungal treatment only. In conclusion, in this experimental model of intra-abdominal Candida abscesses, rmG-CSF administration did not have a detrimental influence on the course of infection. Amphotericin B treatment was most effective, and additional rmG-CSF therapy did not antagonize the effect of antifungal treatment. In contrast, addition of rmG-CSF therapy to antifungal treatment might further enhance the beneficial effect of the antifungal agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine. Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alieke G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Vonk
authors.forename: Mihai G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Netea
authors.forename: Johan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: van Krieken
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Verweij
authors.forename: Jos W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: Bart Jan
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kullberg
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole