FLUCONAZOLE TREATMENT OF NEONATES AND INFANTS WITH SEVERE FUNGAL-INFECTIONS

A total of 24 neonates and infants, aged from 2 days to 10 months, rec eived treatment with intravenous fluconazole for microbiologically doc umented or presumed fungal infection. The mean fluconazole dosage was 6 mg/kg/day (range 2 -16 mg/kg/day) and the mean duration of therapy w as 25 days (range 5 - 72 days). Efficacy was evaluated in neonates wit h proven fungal infections, as documented by the presence of pathogen at baseline. A positive clinical response was achieved in 23 of the 24 clinically evaluable patients (96%); eradication of the fungal organi sm was also achieved in 23 of the 24 evaluable patients (96%). Adverse events occurred in two patients (8%) but therapy was not discontinued in either patient. The present results confirm the efficacy and safet y of fluconazole in the treatment of neonates and infants with severe fungal infections.