Oral and intravenous itraconazole for systemic fungal infections in neutropenic haematological patients: Meeting report

Effective prevention, or treatment, of invasive fungal infection in the neu tropenic patient has hitherto been unsatisfactory because of either an inad equate anti-fungal spectrum of the agent or important toxicity. Itraconazol e is effective against a broad spectrum of the opportunistic pathogens Seen in Europe and North America. Prior problems with absorption, e.g. in the m arrow transplant recipient, have been overcome with the introduction of an oral solution and an i.v. preparation. The deliberations of an expert meeti ng held in June, 1998 include recommendations on which patient requires one of these new preparations based on clinical trials, the dose and route. Im portant drug interactions are also detailed.