[The suppressive effect of intravenous fluconazole against endogenous candida endophthalmitis in rabbits]

The therapeutic effect of intravenous fluconazole against endogenous candida endophthalmitis was investigated in rabbits. Twelve albino rabbits and a candida strain isolated from the human vitreous were used. Endogenous candida endophthalmitis was made by intravenous inoculation of 8 x 10(5) candida albicans spores in rabbits. In the first of two series of experiments, three rabbits out of six were injected intravenously with 5 mg/kg.b.w. of fluconazole at 30 minutes, 1 day and 2 days after inoculation. Another three control rabbits received no medication. The clinical course of the eyes was observed for a week and the viable cell numbers of candida in the eye were counted at 7 days after inoculation. Three rabbits treated with fluconazole developed no ocular lesions and no candida spores whatsoever were isolated from the eyes. In contrast, three rabbits in the control group developed bilateral chorioretinitis and candida albicans was isolated from each of 6 eyes. In the second series, three out of six rabbits were injected intravenously of the same dose of fluconazole as described above for four days starting at 3 days after inoculation, when chorioretinitis was first observed. No medication was given to another three rabbits as a control. All six rabbits in this series developed chorioretinitis similarly and candida spores were isolated from all eyes at 7 days after inoculation. These results show that intravenous fluconazole is effective in the prevention of the endogenous candida endophthalmitis in rabbits but ineffective for these short term therapeutic applications after onset.