Posaconazole efficacy in a murine disseminated infection caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus

Abstract

Objectives: We have compared the efficacy of posaconazole and amphotericin B in an experimental murine model of paecilomycosis. Methods: Immunosuppressed mice were treated with posaconazole at 25, 50, 75 or 100 mg/kg/day orally, amphotericin B at 1.5 or 3 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally or liposomal amphotericin B at 5 mg/kg/day intravenously. Treatment began 1 day after infection and continued for 10 days post-infection. Two strains of Paecilomyces lilacinus were tested. Results: Posaconazole at 50 mg/kg/day was the only treatment able to significantly reduce fungal loads in the spleens, kidneys and livers of the mice infected by each of the two strains. Conclusions: The results suggest that posaconazole may have a clinical role in the treatment of disseminated paecilomycosis. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.