EFFICACY OF DEOXYCHOLATE AMPHOTERICIN-B AND UNILAMELLAR LIPOSOMAL AMPHOTERICIN-B IN PROPHYLAXIS OF EXPERIMENTAL ASPERGILLUS-FUMIGATUS ENDOCARDITIS

Objective: To evaluate and compare in vivo the protective efficacy of unilamellar liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) with that of deoxycholate amphotericin B (D-AmB) in experimental endocarditis, Material and Met hods: In the rabbit model of experimental Aspergillus fumigatus endoca rditis, Ino doses of each antifungal agent (1.5 mg/kg each) were admin istered intravenously at 4 hours and at 30 minutes before challenge wi th an inoculum of A. fumigatus. Three days later, the animals were sac rificed, and the aortic vegetations were analyzed, Results: All 19 ani mals that did not receive chemoprophylaxis acquired endocarditis, In c ontrast, endocarditis developed in 2 of 10 animals pretreated with D-A mB (P<0.01) and 3 of 8 animals pretreated with L-AmB (P<0.01). Both D- AmB and L-AmB prevented the development of endocarditis due to A. fumi gatus and decreased the concentration of fungi in the aortic vegetatio ns by more than 1 log(10). Conclusion: In the rabbit experimental mode l of Aspergillus endocarditis, D-AmB and L-AmB nrere equally effective in reducing the incidence of the infection and the tissue burden of f ungi.