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Posaconazole prophylaxis in experimental systemic zygomycosis

Francesco Barchiesi1, Elisabetta Spreghini, Alfredo Santinelli

  • 1Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi, Via Conca, Torrette, Ancona 60020, Italy. l.infettive@ao-umbertoprimo.marche.it

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|October 25, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Posaconazole (POS) and amphotericin B (AMB) demonstrated efficacy in treating zygomycosis in mice. POS showed potential for prophylaxis, reducing infection severity and prolonging survival against Rhizopus oryzae and Absidia corymbifera.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Zygomycosis is a severe fungal infection, often fatal in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Neutropenic mice are a relevant model for studying invasive fungal infections.
  • Limited treatment options exist for zygomycosis, necessitating research into new antifungal agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of posaconazole (POS) and amphotericin B (AMB) in treating systemic zygomycosis in a murine model.
  • To compare the effects of POS and AMB on survival rates, organ burden, and histological manifestations of infection.
  • To assess the prophylactic potential of POS against zygomycosis.

Main Methods:

  • Systemic infection was induced in neutropenic mice using Rhizopus oryzae and Absidia corymbifera isolates.
  • Mice were treated with varying doses of POS or a standard dose of AMB prior to infection.
  • Efficacy was assessed by survival, organ culture, and histological examination of infection foci in brain and kidney tissues.

Main Results:

  • Both AMB and POS significantly prolonged survival in infected mice.
  • POS demonstrated a potential prophylactic effect, reducing infection severity in mice challenged with A. corymbifera.
  • Both drugs reduced the number and size of infection foci in kidneys infected with R. oryzae and in both tissues infected with A. corymbifera.

Conclusions:

  • Posaconazole exhibits therapeutic and prophylactic potential against zygomycosis caused by R. oryzae and A. corymbifera in a murine model.
  • Amphotericin B remains a highly effective treatment for systemic zygomycosis.
  • Further clinical investigation of POS for zygomycosis prophylaxis is warranted.

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