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Posaconazole: when and how? The clinician's view

Aspasia Katragkou1, Fotini Tsikopoulou, Emmanuel Roilides

  • 13rd Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Mycoses
|July 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Posaconazole offers broad-spectrum antifungal activity, including against Zygomycetes, with fewer drug interactions. It is effective for prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFI), showing a good safety profile.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Posaconazole is a novel triazole antifungal agent.
  • It exhibits broad-spectrum activity against various fungi, including Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Zygomycetes, and endemic fungi.
  • Key advantages include low cross-resistance with other azoles and fewer drug interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of posaconazole.
  • To assess its role in prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFI).
  • To highlight its utility in azole-refractory and life-threatening fungal infections.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized, double-blind trials for prophylaxis.
  • Phase III clinical trials and case/series reports for treatment efficacy.
  • Safety and tolerability assessments, including adverse event monitoring.

Main Results:

  • Posaconazole demonstrated efficacy in prophylaxis against IFI, particularly aspergillosis, in high-risk patients.
  • Effective treatment outcomes were observed for oesophageal candidiasis and other refractory IFI.
  • The drug was well-tolerated, with gastrointestinal disturbances as the most common side effect.

Conclusions:

  • Posaconazole is an effective antifungal agent for prophylaxis and treatment of IFI.
  • Its favorable safety profile and activity against resistant fungi make it a valuable therapeutic option.
  • Posaconazole is poised to be a significant aid in managing life-threatening fungal infections.

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