Effect of ravuconazole, a new triazole antifungal, in a rat intraabdominalabscess model

Background: Ravuconazole (BMS-207147) is a long-lasting triazole antifungal agent active against a broad spectrum of fungal pathogens including non-al bicans Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus and key dermatophytic fungi. Meth ods: The efficacy of ravuconazole was evaluated using an experimental intra abdominal abscess model in rats caused by Candida albicans (E81022). Two hu ndred milligrams of cyclophosphamide per kilogram was injected intraperiton eally into 40 rats. Four days (96 h) after the injection of cyclophosphamid e, a mixture of C. albicans and autoclaved rat cecal contents [C. albicans 1.7 x 10(8) colony-forming units/rat] was inoculated into the peritoneal ca vity. The rats were divided into four groups: ravuconazole treated, flucona zole treated, itraconazole treated and untreated. Each antifungal was given orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg twice a day for 5 days. On the day after the last administration, the rats were dissected and the viable fungi in the ab scesses were determined. The number of C. albicans in each abscess was dete rmined by a quantitative culture technique. Results: Ravuconazole inhibited abscess formation and significantly decreased the viable cell counts in ab scesses in comparison with the untreated group. It's efficacy was at least equivalent to fluconazole and itraconazole against this pathogen. The rank order of potency (inhibition) was ravuconazole > itraconazole > fluconazole . Conclusion: Taking into consideration the antifungal spectrum of ravucona zole, which includes non-albicans Candida as well as C. albicans and Asperg illus; it is suggested that ravuconazole would be a good agent for the trea tment of fungal peritonitis. Copyright (C) 2001 S. KargerAG, Basel.