BACKGROUND Amphotericin B is a widely used broad-spectrum antifungal agent, despite being associated with significant adverse events, including nephrotoxicity. METHODS The present prospective study collected data on outcomes for 418 adult patients treated consecutively with polyenes in hematology and oncology wards in 20 hospitals in Europe. RESULTS Patients initially received amphotericin ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of four types of in-line filters on filtration rate, amphotericin B concentration and particulate matter. METHODS Filtration rates of amphotericin B fluid through in-line filters under maximum gravity flow were examined. The concentrations of amphotericin B and the particulate matter in the non-filtered and filtered amphotericin B fluid at the flow rate of 50...

The clinical value of amphotericin B, the mainstay therapy for visceral leishmaniasis in sodium antimony gluconate-nonresponsive zones of Bihar, India, is now threatened by the emergence of acquired drug resistance, and a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms is the need of the hour. We have selected an amphotericin B-resistant clinical isolate which demonstrated 8-fold-highe...

A 16-year-old diabetic patient developed Rhizopus pneumonia and was initially treated with amphotericin B for 7 days. Because of clinical deterioration of the patient, rifampin was added empirically. The patient improved clinically, and lung tissue removed surgically 8 weeks later showed no fungal elements by histopathological studies or by culture. An in vitro study of amphotericin B alone and...

We conducted a randomized, open-labeled clinical trial to compare the tolerability and efficacy of amphotericin B deoxycholate, prepared in 5% dextrose or Intralipid (Kabi Pharmacia, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France), in the treatment of AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis in Burundi. Forty-four patients were assigned to receive amphotericin B/dextrose (0.7 mg/[kg.d]) for 14 days; the dose...

The antimycotic activity of amphotericin B depends on its ability to make complexes with cell membrane sterols. Surface pressure (π) as a function of surface area (A) and π-A hysteresis were measured for monolayers of amphotericin B/cholesterol mixtures on the water/air interface. Specific area per molecule of amphotericin B and free energy of mixing were calculated as a function of concentrati...

Liposomal amphotercin B was compared with conventional amphotericin B for empirical antifungal therapy in febrile neutropenic patients in a randomized, double-blind, multicentre trial. Using a composite end-point, the two drugs were equivalent in overall efficacy. However, the liposomal amphotericin B treatment group had fewer proven fungal infections, fewer infusion-related side effects and le...

PURPOSE To demonstrate the antimicrobial properties of riboflavin/UV-A (365 nm) against fungal pathogens. METHODS The antimicrobial properties of riboflavin/UV-A (365 nm), with or without previous treatment with amphotericin B, were tested on three groups of fungi selected from severe cases of keratomycosis: Candida albicans, Fusarium sp, and Aspergillus fumigatus. They were tested by using K...

1. Frothingham R. Mortality rates in comparative trials of formulations of amphotericin B. Clin Infect Dis 2001; 33:582–3 (in this issue). 2. Wingard JR, White MH, Anaissie E, et al. A randomized, double-blind comparative trial evaluating the safety of liposomal amphotericin B versus amphotericin B lipid complex in the empirical treatment of febrile neutropenia. Clin Infect Dis 2000; 31:1155–63.

Background: The use of antifungal agents has been increasing in the growing population of immunocompromised patients. To address the problem of renal and infusion-related toxic effects of conventional amphotericin B, several lipid-based formulations of this drug have been developed. At the authors’ pediatric institution, recommendations for the use of these products were established in 2001. Ob...