The molecular action of polyene macrolides with antifungal activity, amphotericin B and natamycin, involves recognition of sterols in membranes. Physicochemical and functional studies have contributed details to understanding the interactions between amphotericin B and ergosterol and, to a lesser extent, with cholesterol. Fewer molecular details are available on interactions between natamycin w...

The purpose of this study was to analyze the usage of amphotericin B desoxycholate in a small community hospital, with special emphasis on its side effects and need for premedication. We performed a retrospective chart review for patients who received intravenous amphotericin B from January 1993 to May 1996. Temperature elevation, clinical symptoms during infusion, need for premedication, and f...

BACKGROUND Caspofungin is an echinocandin agent with fungicidal activity against Candida species. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of caspofungin relative to amphotericin B in neonates with invasive candidiasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-two neonates with invasive candidiasis were randomly assigned to receive either caspofungin (n = 15) or amphotericin B (n = 17)....

The tolerability of amphotericin B lipid complex in patients with previous severe infusion reactions to liposomal amphotericin B is unclear. We reviewed the charts of 40 such patients at a tertiary care cancer center and found that amphotericin B lipid complex administration was uneventful in 34 patients (85% [95% confidence interval, 69%-93%]).

Amphotericin-B, a broad spectrum antifungal agent, has been known to cause adverse effects such as nephrotoxicity and infusion-related side effects such as fever, chills, rigor, and arthralgias. However, ototoxicity as an adverse effect of Amphotericin-B has not yet been reported in medical literature. We here report a case of a reversible form of ototoxicity induced by liposomal Amphotericin-B...

BACKGROUND Systemic antifungal medications can be lifesaving but can also have important toxicities. With a number of new antifungal drugs being introduced, there is a compelling need to define the toxicities associated with existing therapies. METHODS We identified cases of hepatotoxicity among patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation and selected matched control subjects from the ...

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present investigation was to study and characterize the effect of voriconazole on the fungicidal activity of amphotericin B. METHODS Four strains of Candida albicans susceptible to voriconazole were exposed to voriconazole and amphotericin B, either alone, simultaneously or sequentially in an in vitro kinetic model. Bolus doses resulting in voriconazole and amphoteri...

Both intrinsic and acquired resistance to amphotericin B have been documented for Candida lusitaniae. Amphotericin B remains the drug of choice for many critical fungal infections, and the detection of resistance is essential to monitor treatment effectively. The limitations of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) reference methodology for detection of amphotericin B...

Severe pulmonary reactions have been reported in patients receiving leukocyte transfusion and amphotericin-B. To study the interaction of amphotericin-B with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), purified human PMN were incubated with 200 mg of nylon wool fiber for 60 min either in the absence or presence of 2 mM EDTA. PMN were recovered in acid citrate dextrose solution and were suspended in bal...

The interactions of amphotericin B and itraconazole were studied in murine invasive candidiasis. Candida albicans-infected mice were treated for 10 consecutive days, 24 h after infection. Survival was monitored over 30 days and kidney cultures were done. Mice treated with amphotericin B (0.2 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally) or itraconazole (100 mg/kg/day by oral gavage in two divided doses/ day) ha...