title: Micafungin versus fluconazole for prophylaxis against fungal infections in premature infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted a comparative clinical study to evaluate the prophylactic effects of micafungin (MCFG) and fluconazole (FLCZ) on the incidence of fungal infections in extremely low-birthweight infants who were born at a gestational age of less than 26 weeks and weighed less than 1000 g.
  
  
  METHODS
  With a combination of enteral administration of miconazole (6 mg/kg/day), FLCZ and MCFG were administered intravenously at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day and 3 mg/kg/day, respectively. The prophylaxis was classified as a failure when fungal infections were identified within the first 21 days after birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prophylaxis was successful in seven of 18 cases (39%) in the FLCZ group and 15 of 21 cases (71%) in the MCFG group, indicating that the success rate was significantly higher in the latter group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MCFG was superior to FLCZ as prophylaxis against fungal infections in extremely low-birthweight infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Medical Center, Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maede
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibara
authors.forename: Hiraku
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagasaki
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokuhisa
authors.forename: Motofumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torikai
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kodaira
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065386:Historically Controlled Study; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055666:Lipopeptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D000077551:Micafungin; D009181:Mycoses / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D015725:Fluconazole; D000077551:Micafungin
keywords: extremely low-birthweight infants; fluconazole; fungal infections; micafungin; miconazole; prophylaxis