Resistance to amphotericin B does not emerge during treatment for invasive aspergillosis

J Antimicrob Chemother. 2002 Jan;49(1):209-13. doi: 10.1093/jac/49.1.209.

Abstract

Emergence of resistance to antifungal drugs during therapy for invasive aspergillosis has received scant attention. We recovered Aspergillus isolates from six patients with invasive aspergillosis, who were receiving amphotericin B before fungal isolation. Although isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B in vitro, none of the patients survived. The MIC of amphotericin B for isolates was similar to that for isolates from 35 patients with no prior exposure to amphotericin B. Laboratory attempts to produce amphotericin B resistance in Aspergillus were unsuccessful. These data indicate that emergence of resistance to amphotericin B is uncommon during therapy for invasive aspergillosis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / pharmacology
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use*
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Aspergillosis / drug therapy*
  • Aspergillosis / microbiology
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / drug effects
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / isolation & purification
  • Aspergillus niger / drug effects
  • Aspergillus niger / isolation & purification
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B