title: Efficacy of posaconazole in a murine model of disseminated infection caused by Apophysomyces variabilis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the in vitro activity of posaconazole and amphotericin B against several clinical strains of the mucoralean fungus Apophysomyces variabilis, and their efficacy in a murine model of disseminated infection caused by that fungus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The in vitro susceptibility of seven strains of A. variabilis to posaconazole and amphotericin B was determined by using a broth microdilution method. The in vivo efficacy of both drugs, posaconazole at 20 mg/kg twice daily orally by gavage and amphotericin B at 0.8 mg/kg once daily intravenously, was evaluated against six of the strains previously tested in vitro using immunocompetent mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, MICs of both drugs were within the range of susceptibility or intermediate susceptibility. Posaconazole and amphotericin B were able to significantly reduce the percentages of positive cultures in the affected tissues. However, in general, posaconazole significantly improved survival (median, 23 days; range, 7-30 days) compared with untreated controls (median, 6 days; range, 4-7 days) and, in some cases, with respect to the animals treated with amphotericin B (median, 15 days; range, 5-30 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate the efficacy of posaconazole in the treatment of a disseminated murine infection caused by A. variabilis. However, further clinical studies are required to ascertain the potential use in human infections caused by this fungus.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, IISPV,  Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus,  Spain.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.forename: F Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Deanna A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Jagdish
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chander
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mayayo
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guarro
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009090:Mucorales / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D014230:Triazoles; C101425:posaconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B