Efficacy of fluconazole and liposome entrapped fluconazole for C. albicansinduced experimental mycotic endophthalmitis in rabbit eyes

Purpose: To study the efficacy of intravitreally injected plain and liposom e encapsulated fluconazole in the doses of 100 and 200 mu g in Candidal end ophthalmitis in rabbit eyes. Method: Endophthalmitis was induced by injecting Candida albicans (1000 CFU /0.1 ml). Seventy two hours after inoculation, plain and liposome encapsula ted fluconazole (REVs) were injected. At day 16 sterility was studied using vitreous culture. Results: In the 100 & 200 mu g plain fluconazole group, vitreous sterility was seen in 62.5% and 75%, respectively. In the liposome entrapped fluconaz ole a culture sterility of 25% and 50% for 100 mu g and 200 mu g, respectiv ely, was seen. Conclusion: Plain fluconazole in the dose of 100 and 200 mu g was equally e ffective against Candidal endophthalmitis in rabbits but a failure of 25-37 .5% of the eyes to respond, discourages one from using fluconazole as a sol e therapy. Liposome entrapped fluconazole was found to be inferior to plain fluconazole in this model.