The prophylactic effectiveness of various antifungal agents against the progression of trichosporonosis fungemia to disseminated disease in a neutropenic mouse model

Neutropenic mice with latent trichosporonemia were given various antifungal agents (amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole) or saline to determine which antifungal agent could be useful for prophylaxis. The 3-week-survival rate was 80% in the fluconazole group, 50% in the amphotericin B group, 45% in the itraconazole group, and 30% in the saline group. Compared with the other antifungal agents, fluconazole offered superior prophylaxis against the progression of trichosporonosis fungemia to disseminated disease (P < 0.05). These results suggest that clinical studies are warranted to investigate fluconazole prophylaxis of trichosporonosis progression in neutropenic patients, such as people receiving chemotherapy and patients who have received solid organ transplants.