BACKGROUND: Disseminated coccidioidomycosis (which is caused by the endemic fungi of the genus Coccidioides) can be a life-threatening systemic fungal infection. Although conventional antifungal therapies have activity against Coccidioides, the disease can be refractory to standard therapies. Drug-associated toxicities also may limit the clinical utility of the standard antifungal drugs. In addition, relapses in patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis are common, making long-term management of this disease challenging. METHODS: We report the outcomes of 6 patients with coccidioidomycosis who were treated with posaconazole salvage therapy after treatment with conventional antifungal therapies failed to produce sustained clinical improvement. Patients were administered posaconazole oral suspension 800 mg/day in divided doses as part of an open-label clinical trial. A modified version of the Mycoses Study Group Coccidioides scoring system was used to evaluate the burden of disease. Posaconazole therapy resulted in rapid clinical improvements in the signs and symptoms of coccidioidomycosis. RESULTS: At the end of therapy, 5 of 6 patients had successful outcomes. Posaconazole was well tolerated despite long-term administration (1-2 years), and 2 patients continued to receive posaconazole maintenance therapy at the time of writing. CONCLUSIONS: The successful outcomes observed in this case series suggest that posaconazole is an effective therapy for coccidioidomycosis.
BACKGROUND: Disseminated coccidioidomycosis (which is caused by the endemic fungi of the genus Coccidioides) can be a life-threatening systemic fungal infection. Although conventional antifungal therapies have activity against Coccidioides, the disease can be refractory to standard therapies. Drug-associated toxicities also may limit the clinical utility of the standard antifungal drugs. In addition, relapses in patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis are common, making long-term management of this disease challenging. METHODS: We report the outcomes of 6 patients with coccidioidomycosis who were treated with posaconazole salvage therapy after treatment with conventional antifungal therapies failed to produce sustained clinical improvement. Patients were administered posaconazole oral suspension 800 mg/day in divided doses as part of an open-label clinical trial. A modified version of the Mycoses Study Group Coccidioides scoring system was used to evaluate the burden of disease. Posaconazole therapy resulted in rapid clinical improvements in the signs and symptoms of coccidioidomycosis. RESULTS: At the end of therapy, 5 of 6 patients had successful outcomes. Posaconazole was well tolerated despite long-term administration (1-2 years), and 2 patients continued to receive posaconazole maintenance therapy at the time of writing. CONCLUSIONS: The successful outcomes observed in this case series suggest that posaconazole is an effective therapy for coccidioidomycosis.
Authors: P Martín-Dávila; J Fortún; R López-Vélez; F Norman; M Montes de Oca; P Zamarrón; M I González; A Moreno; T Pumarola; G Garrido; A Candela; S Moreno Journal: Clin Microbiol Rev Date: 2008-01 Impact factor: 26.132
Authors: George K Siberry; Mark J Abzug; Sharon Nachman; Michael T Brady; Kenneth L Dominguez; Edward Handelsman; Lynne M Mofenson; Steve Nesheim Journal: Pediatr Infect Dis J Date: 2013-11 Impact factor: 2.129
Authors: Chinh Nguyen; Bridget Marie Barker; Susan Hoover; David E Nix; Neil M Ampel; Jeffrey A Frelinger; Marc J Orbach; John N Galgiani Journal: Clin Microbiol Rev Date: 2013-07 Impact factor: 26.132
Authors: Bárbara Gabriela Brum Lopes; André Luis Souza Dos Santos; Cláudia de Carvalho Falci Bezerra; Bodo Wanke; Márcia Dos Santos Lazéra; Marília Martins Nishikawa; Ana Maria Mazotto; Vânia Monteiro Kussumi; Rosa Maria Tavares Haido; Alane Beatriz Vermelho Journal: Mycopathologia Date: 2008-04-02 Impact factor: 2.574