Treatment of coccidioidal meningitis with fluconazole

R M Tucker1, J N Galgiani, D W Denning

  • 1Department of Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California 95128.

Insights

Fluconazole shows promise for treating coccidioidal meningitis, with significant patient response rates. However, relapse can occur, indicating potential limitations with current fluconazole therapy durations and dosages.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Coccidioidal meningitis is a serious fungal infection requiring effective treatment.
  • Antifungal therapy is crucial for managing this invasive condition.

Observation:

  • Fluconazole was administered to 18 patients with coccidioidal meningitis at daily doses ranging from 50-400 mg.
  • Treatment duration averaged 9.8 months, with cerebrospinal fluid penetration assessed.

Findings:

  • 67% of assessable patients responded, and 7% showed partial response to fluconazole.
  • 5 of 8 patients receiving fluconazole as monotherapy responded or partially responded.
  • Toxicity was minimal, and cerebrospinal fluid penetration was substantial across all doses.

Implications:

  • Fluconazole demonstrates potential as a sole therapy for coccidioidal meningitis.
  • Relapse is a concern, suggesting a need for optimized dosing and treatment duration.
  • Further research is warranted to refine fluconazole treatment protocols for coccidioidal meningitis.

Related Concept Videos

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...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
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,...
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...
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...