title: Antifungal susceptibilities of Cryptococcus neoformans cerebrospinal fluid isolates and clinical outcomes of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-infected patients with/without fluconazole prophylaxis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the MICs of FLUconazole (FLU) and amphotericin B against isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) obtained from the CerebroSpinal Fluid (CSF); and clinical outcomes of HIV-infected patients diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were two groups including those who did not receive FLU (group A) and those who did receive either FLU 400 mg/week for primary prophylaxis cryptococosis or 200 mg/day for secondary prophylaxis cryptococosis (group B). CSF isolates of C. neoformans from group A and group B between January 2003 and October 2004 were retrospectively studied. The MICs were determined by using the standard NCCLS broth microdilution methods (M27-A). The MICs of FLU and amphotericin B, and clinical outcomes after 10 weeks of cryptococcal meningitis treatment were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 98 isolates; 80 in group A and 18 in group B. The patients in group B had a higher proportion of previous opportunistic infections (p = 0.008). The other baseline characteristics between the two groups were not different. The median (range) MIC of FLU was 8.0 (0.5-32) microg/ml in group A, and 6.0 (0.5-32) microg/ml in group B (p = 0.926). The median (range) MIC of amphotericin B was 0.25 (0.03-1.0) microg/ml in group A, and 0.25 (0.12-1.0) microg/ml in group B (p = 0.384). Sixty patients from group A and 14 from group B received standard treatment and continued to follow-up. After the 10-week treatment, 39/60 (65%) patients in group A and 7/14 (50%) in group B had complete recovery (p = 0.364; RR = 0.538, 95%CI = 0.166-1.742). The overall mortality rate was 14/60 (23.3%) in group A and 7/14 (50.0%) in group B (p = 0.096; RR = 3.286, 95%CI = 0.983-10.979).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MICs of FLU and amphotericin B against CSF isolates of C. neoformans and clinical outcomes between HIV-infected patients who receive or did not receive FLU prophylaxis are not different.
authors.affiliation: Bamrasnaradura Institute, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand. drweerawat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Weerawat
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Manosuthi
authors.forename: Somnuek
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sungkanuparph
authors.forename: Supeda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thongyen
authors.forename: Nopphanath
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chumpathat
authors.forename: Boonchuay
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eampokalap
authors.forename: Unchana
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Thawornwan
authors.forename: Suporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foongladda
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole