Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Live Imaging of Antifungal Activity by Human Primary Neutrophils and Monocytes in Response to A. fumigatus
12:29

Live Imaging of Antifungal Activity by Human Primary Neutrophils and Monocytes in Response to A. fumigatus

Published on: April 19, 2017

Fluconazole prophylaxis in high-risk neonates

Brent N Reed1, Kelly E Caudle, P David Rogers

  • 1University of North Carolina Hospitals & Clinics, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|December 31, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Fluconazole prophylaxis may reduce fungal infections in critically ill neonates, but evidence for improved long-term outcomes is lacking. Further research is needed to identify specific neonates who would benefit from this intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Critically ill neonates are susceptible to Candida spp. colonization and invasive fungal infections.
  • Fluconazole prophylaxis is considered for at-risk neonates due to its success in immunocompromised patients.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infections remain challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate existing literature on fluconazole prophylaxis in high-risk neonates.
  • To assess the efficacy and safety of fluconazole prophylaxis in preventing fungal colonization and invasive infections.
  • To determine if fluconazole prophylaxis impacts long-term morbidity or mortality in neonates.

Main Methods:

  • Literature search of MEDLINE (February 2001-August 2009) using terms 'fluconazole' and 'prophylaxis'.
  • Inclusion of studies limited to the pediatric age group (birth-18 years).
  • Review of reference citations from identified articles and evaluation of all identified English-language prospective and retrospective studies.

Main Results:

  • Fluconazole prophylaxis appears to reduce rates of fungal colonization and invasive fungal infections in neonates.
  • No significant difference in long-term morbidity or mortality was demonstrated across reviewed trials.
  • Concerns exist regarding adverse effects of prolonged fluconazole exposure and lack of standardized study designs.

Conclusions:

  • Fluconazole prophylaxis may benefit critically ill neonates with specific risk factors like central venous access or high incidence of fungal infections.
  • Current research does not support routine fluconazole prophylaxis based solely on birth weight or gestational age.
  • Multifactor analysis is required to identify specific neonatal subgroups that would benefit from fluconazole prophylaxis.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Induction of Petite Colonies in Candida glabrate via Rose Bengal-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy09:06

Induction of Petite Colonies in Candida glabrate via Rose Bengal-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy

Published on: March 29, 2024

Generation of Fluorescent Protein Fusions in Candida Species09:27

Generation of Fluorescent Protein Fusions in Candida Species

Published on: March 4, 2017

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,...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
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...
Cystic Fibrosis: Management01:24

Cystic Fibrosis: Management

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder that predominantly affects individuals of Northern European descent, occurring at a rate of 1 in 3500. It is caused by a genetic mutation in a gene on chromosome 7, most commonly the ΔF508 mutation, that codes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. This results in thicker mucus secretions and obstruction pathologies in multiple organs, including the lungs and sinuses.
Sinus disease and chronic sinusitis...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...