Can fluconazole be used for inpatient re-treatment of coccidioidomycosis among patients with past fluconazole exposures?

Early Experiences with Intrathecal Administration of Amphotericin B Liposomal Formulation at a Neurosurgical Center

BACKGROUND

Intrathecal administration of amphotericin B represents an important adjunctive therapy for management of severe fungal meningitis. Intrathecal preparations have traditionally used amphotericin B deoxycholate. Liposomal amphotericin B is an alternative formulation with good clinical outcomes as systemic therapy, but scant data exist investigating intrathecal use.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate outcomes following intrathecal administration of liposomal amphotericin B for treatment of severe fungal meningitis.

METHODS

A national shortage of amphotericin B deoxycholate necessitated revision of institutional protocols at a southwestern neurosurgical center in Spring 2023. A starting intrathecal daily dose of 0.125-0.5 mg liposomal amphotericin B was recommended (dependent on insertion device), with 0.125-0.25 mg slow titration every 48 h and up to a 2 mg maximum daily dose.

RESULTS

Four cases of fungal meningitis treated with adjunctive intrathecal amphotericin B liposomal formulation were reviewed. This included three cases of coccidioidal meningitis and one case of presumed Fusarium solani meningitis following an outbreak. All patients had initial disease improvement following initiation of intrathecal amphotericin B and were able to tolerate long-term therapy. One coccidioidal meningitis patient expired of neurologic complications shortly after being moved from the intensive care unit (ICU) to a floor unit. All other patients were successfully discharged from the hospital. New headache was the only reported adverse effect, which was managed with dose reduction and did not require therapy discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

Liposomal amphotericin B may be feasibly administered intrathecally for the adjunctive treatment of severe fungal meningitis.

Fluconazole Failure in the Treatment of Coccidioidal Meningitis

INTRODUCTION

Coccidioidal meningitis (CM) is the most lethal form of disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Current guidelines recommend fluconazole as initial therapy but there has been a paucity of data regarding failure of fluconazole and optimal fluconazole dosage in the treatment of CM. We conducted this study to understand risk factors for fluconazole failure.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with coccidioidal meningitis between 1 January 1988 and 15 May 2021. Relevant demographic and clinical variables were collected, along with outcomes including treatment failure and death at any point. Univariate tests were conducted using the chi-squared goodness of fit test and analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Among 71 patients who began treatment for CM with fluconazole, 22 (31%) developed worsening meningitis at a median time of 206 days. Longer time from symptom onset to diagnosis of CM was a risk factor for fluconazole failure. Although the absolute failure rate of fluconazole starting dose of 400 mg daily was higher than that of 800 mg daily, the differences did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.39).

CONCLUSION

Fluconazole failure is not uncommon in the treatment of CM. A dose of 800 mg daily was not superior to a dose of 400 mg daily. All patients on fluconazole for CM require close monitoring.