Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis
09:52

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis

Published on: March 9, 2018

Disseminated invasive aspergillosis with cerebral involvement successfully treated with caspofungin and voriconazole

C Gubler1, S M Wildi, A Imhof

  • 1Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. christoph.gubler@spitaluster.ch

Infection
|August 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Cerebral aspergillosis, a serious fungal infection, was successfully treated using a combination of caspofungin and voriconazole. This antifungal therapy led to sustained remission in the patient, highlighting a promising treatment approach for invasive aspergillosis.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Invasive aspergillosis poses a significant threat, particularly when it affects the central nervous system.
  • Traditional treatments like amphotericin B have limitations due to poor blood-brain barrier penetration.
  • Cerebral aspergillosis historically has a high mortality rate.

Observation:

  • A unique case of cerebral aspergillosis was managed using a combined therapeutic strategy.
  • The treatment regimen involved the administration of caspofungin and voriconazole.
  • The patient achieved a complete remission of the infection.

Findings:

  • The combination of caspofungin and voriconazole proved effective in treating cerebral aspergillosis.
  • The patient remained disease-free for 18 months post-treatment cessation.
  • Voriconazole's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier was crucial for targeting the cerebral infection.

Implications:

  • This case supports the use of voriconazole-based combination therapy as a primary treatment for invasive cerebral aspergillosis.
  • Salvage therapy options for refractory cases of invasive aspergillosis involving the brain warrant further investigation.
  • Successful treatment outcomes can be achieved even in complex neurological fungal infections.

Related Concept Videos

Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...