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Posaconazole efficacy in a murine disseminated infection caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus
M Mar Rodríguez1, F Javier Pastor, Carolina Serena
1Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
Objectives:
We have compared the efficacy of posaconazole and amphotericin B in an experimental murine model of paecilomycosis.
Methods:
Immunosuppressed mice were treated with posaconazole at 25, 50, 75 or 100 mg/kg/day orally, amphotericin B at 1.5 or 3 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally or liposomal amphotericin B at 5 mg/kg/day intravenously. Treatment began 1 day after infection and continued for 10 days post-infection. Two strains of Paecilomyces lilacinus were tested.
Results:
Posaconazole at 50 mg/kg/day was the only treatment able to significantly reduce fungal loads in the spleens, kidneys and livers of the mice infected by each of the two strains.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that posaconazole may have a clinical role in the treatment of disseminated paecilomycosis.
Insights
Posaconazole effectively reduced fungal infections in mice with paecilomycosis, outperforming amphotericin B. This study highlights posaconazole
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Paecilomycosis is a serious fungal infection.
- Limited treatment options exist for disseminated paecilomycosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of posaconazole and amphotericin B against Paecilomyces lilacinus in a murine model.
- To evaluate posaconazole's potential in treating disseminated paecilomycosis.
Main Methods:
- Immunosuppressed mice were infected with two strains of Paecilomyces lilacinus.
- Mice received oral posaconazole (25-100 mg/kg/day), intraperitoneal amphotericin B (1.5-3 mg/kg/day), or intravenous liposomal amphotericin B (5 mg/kg/day).
- Treatment was administered for 10 days, starting one day post-infection.
Main Results:
- Posaconazole at 50 mg/kg/day significantly reduced fungal loads in the spleen, kidneys, and liver.
- This reduction was observed for both tested strains of Paecilomyces lilacinus.
- Posaconazole demonstrated superior efficacy compared to amphotericin B treatments.
Conclusions:
- Posaconazole shows significant antifungal activity against Paecilomyces lilacinus in vivo.
- The findings suggest a potential clinical role for posaconazole in treating disseminated paecilomycosis.
- Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm posaconazole's efficacy in human patients.
