Pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in young infants.

Intravenous fluconazole is used in the treatment of fungal infections in infants. Little is known, however, about the pharmacokinetics of fluconazole after oral administration in premature infants. Oral fluconazole was administered at a dose of 6 mg/kg. The peak serum concentration (Cmax), area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC), and apparent clearance ranged from 6.0-13.5 micrograms/ml, 340-636 micrograms.h/ml, and 0.16-0.29 ml/min/kg, respectively. The Cmax and AUC were comparable after oral and intravenous doses of fluconazole. Oral fluconazole was well absorbed and tolerated. The use of oral fluconazole may offer an important alternative to the intravenous therapy; it may improve patient convenience, reduce the need for venous access and decrease complications and the cost of health care.