Treatment of Cryptococcus gattii Infection Using Voriconazole

Intern Med. 2021 Nov 15;60(22):3635-3638. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.5866-20. Epub 2021 May 29.

Abstract

We previously reported a 39-year-old man who presented with pulmonary and cerebral Cryptococcus gattii (genotype VGIIa) infection and was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B and flucytosine induction therapy. Following induction therapy, oral fluconazole treatment was initiated as consolidation therapy. However, the patient complained of progressively worsening headache, presenting an elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell count. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the CSF isolate were 8 and 0.12 μg/mL for fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. The oral administration of voriconazole for more than 18 months alleviated his symptoms. Voriconazole might be useful for controlling refractory cases of C. gattii infection.

Keywords: Cryptococcus gattii; fluconazole; voriconazole.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cryptococcosis* / diagnosis
  • Cryptococcosis* / drug therapy
  • Cryptococcus gattii*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans*
  • Fluconazole / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Voriconazole / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Fluconazole
  • Voriconazole