Treatment of Candida infections with fluconazole in adult liver transplant recipients: Is TDM-guided dosing adaptation helpful?

Abstract

Background: Fluconazole represents a common antifungal option for the treatment of Candida infections in liver transplant recipients. Although adequate antifungal exposure is known to correlate with favorable outcomes in patients with invasive candidiasis, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of fluconazole is currently not recommended. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including adult liver transplant recipients receiving fluconazole for invasive candidiasis and undergoing TDM. We assessed the correlation between clinical variables, fluconazole trough plasma levels (Cmin), and outcome. Results: Twenty-seven patients (74% males; median age 57 years) were included. Abdominal candidiasis was the most frequent infection (56%). Median duration of fluconazole therapy was 17 days (IQR 9-21). Fluconazole median Cmin was 11.0 mg/L (range 2.4-30.6 mg/L). Five (19%) patients required TDM-guided fluconazole dose increase. All-cause in hospital mortality was 33%. Fluconazole Cmin >11 mg/L significantly correlated with clinical success (OR 8.78, 95% CI 1.13-67.8, P = 0.04). Conclusions: Our study identified decreased fluconazole Cmin as a factor associated with negative outcomes in liver transplant recipients with Candida infection. TDM of fluconazole may be advisable in this patient population.