THE TREATMENT OF OROPHARYNGEAL CANDIDIASIS IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS WITH ORAL AMPHOTERICIN-B SUSPENSION

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is the most frequent opportunistic inf ection associated with HIV infection. Therapies such as topical clotri mazole and nystatin, as well as oral azoles, which had previously been effective prior to the advent of HIV, are increasingly only partially effective in OPC in HIV infection. The effectiveness of oral amphoter icin B suspension for OPC is described in 17 HIV-infected patients who se response to other therapies had been unsatisfactory. Three patients yielded isolates of Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concen tration (MIC) to fluconazole of greater than or equal to 16 mu g/mL. E leven patients received amphotericin B suspension monotherapy. Of the 17 patients, the symptoms of six resolved entirely, seven patients par tially responded, and four failed therapy. These data suggest that amp hotericin B suspension may be a useful additional therapy for OPC in H IV-infected patients.