EFFECTIVENESS OF FLUCONAZOLE IN MURINE CANDIDA-ALBICANS AND BACTERIALCANDIDA-ALBICANS PERITONITIS AND ABSCESS FORMATION

The role of fluconazole in the treatment of many forms of focal mycose s remains unclear. We studied the effectiveness of three different ora l doses of fluconazole in three murine models of Candida albicans peri tonitis leading to intra-abdominal abscess formation. During monomicro bial Candida infection, fluconazole decreased mortality and the number of C. albicans cultured per abscess; prolonged treatment also elimina ted Escherichia coli translocation. In mixed C. albicans/E. coli/Bacte roides fragilis infection, prolonged treatment with higher doses of fl uconazole decreased mortality, the number of abscesses formed, and the number of C. albicans per abscess. In animals with a similar polymicr obial infection but with concurrent cefoxitin treatment, fluconazole d ecreased mortality and the number of C. albicans per abscess; in addit ion, prolonged treatment reduced the number of abscesses. Amphotericin B gave similar results in all three models. These data indicate that the clinical use of fluconazole in peritonitis should be investigated.