RESUMO
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of topical application of a liposomal formulation of itraconazole for the treatment of experimental keratitis with endophthalmitis caused by Aspergillus flavus. The liposomes were obtained by the lipid film hydration method followed by sonication. Adult female Wistar rats (weighing 200-220 g) were immunosuppressed by intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide 3 days before infection by exposure to the fungus A. flavus (10(7) spores/ml). Forty-eight hours later, the animals were treated with the liposomal formulation. For comparison, one group of animals (n = 6) was treated with the same drug not encapsulated. At the end of the experiment, the animals were evaluated for clinical signs and number of colony forming units (CFU/g), along with direct microscopic examination. The results indicated that the liposomal formulation of itraconazole has better antifungal activity than the unencapsulated drug in the treatment of fungal keratitis with endophthalmitis caused experimentally by A. flavus in Wistar rats.
Assuntos
Antifúngicos/administração & dosagem , Aspergilose/tratamento farmacológico , Aspergillus flavus/efeitos dos fármacos , Química Farmacêutica , Endoftalmite/tratamento farmacológico , Itraconazol/administração & dosagem , Ceratite/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Antifúngicos/química , Aspergilose/microbiologia , Aspergillus flavus/fisiologia , Endoftalmite/microbiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Itraconazol/química , Ceratite/microbiologia , Lipossomos/química , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
Infections caused by emerging Cryptococcus non-neoformans species are being reported with increasingly frequency. Here, we present a case of fungaemia by Cryptococcus laurentii in a woman receiving aggressive immunosuppressive therapy for cervical neoplasia. Three venous blood samples were aseptically collected on consecutive days and C. laurentii was isolated and identified through phenotypic and molecular methods. After central venous catheter removal and appropriate antifungal therapy, the patient showed significant improvement and blood culture became negative. Thus, patients following immunosuppressive therapies and using invasive medical devices are at risk of C. laurentii blood infections.
Assuntos
Criptococose/microbiologia , Fungemia/microbiologia , Hospedeiro Imunocomprometido/imunologia , Displasia do Colo do Útero/complicações , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/complicações , Adulto , Criptococose/diagnóstico , Criptococose/imunologia , Cryptococcus/genética , Cryptococcus/isolamento & purificação , Feminino , Fungemia/diagnóstico , Fungemia/imunologia , Humanos , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/microbiologia , Displasia do Colo do Útero/microbiologiaRESUMO
ABSTRACT Infections caused by emerging Cryptococcus non-neoformans species are being reported with increasingly frequency. Here, we present a case of fungaemia byCryptococcus laurentii in a woman receiving aggressive immunosuppressive therapy for cervical neoplasia. Three venous blood samples were aseptically collected on consecutive days and C. laurentiiwas isolated and identified through phenotypic and molecular methods. After central venous catheter removal and appropriate antifungal therapy, the patient showed significant improvement and blood culture became negative. Thus, patients following immunosuppressive therapies and using invasive medical devices are at risk of C. laurentii blood infections.