Activity of amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin, posaconazole, and voriconazole against Candida albicans with decreased susceptibility to fluconazole from APECED patients on long-term azole treatment of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.

Author(s): Rautemaa R, Richardson M, Pfaller MA, Perheentupa J, Saxen H

Affiliation(s): Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland. riina.richardson@helsinki.fi

Publication date & source: 2008-10, Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis., 62(2):182-5. Epub 2008 Jul 1.

Publication type: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED, APS-I) is exceptionally common in Finland. Most patients have chronic oral candidiasis since childhood. Thus, most patients receive repeated courses of antifungals throughout their life. Eleven of our patients (31.4%) have become colonized with Candida albicans with decreased sensitivity to fluconazole. A total of 43 isolates of C. albicans from 23 APECED patients isolated during the years 1994 to 2004 were divided into 2 groups: fluconazole-susceptible dose-dependent (MIC, 16-32 microg/mL, 18 isolates) and fluconazole-susceptible (MIC <or=8 microg/mL, 25 isolates) groups. Antifungal activity of amphotericin B, echinocandins, and azoles was determined by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M27-A2 methodology. All isolates were highly susceptible to amphotericin B and echinocandins. Posaconazole and voriconazole were active against all isolates. Our data suggest that topical amphotericin B could continue to be a safe and active drug for daily administration for APECED patients. Posaconazole, voriconazole, and echinocandins may be useful in some complicated cases.