1. Liposomal amphotericin B in critically ill paediatric patients.
- Author
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Sideri G, Falagas ME, Grigoriou M, Vouloumanou EK, Papadatos JH, Lebessi E, and Kafetzis DA
- Subjects
- Amphotericin B therapeutic use, Antifungal Agents therapeutic use, Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury etiology, Child, Preschool, Comorbidity, Drug Monitoring, Female, Greece epidemiology, Hospitals, Pediatric, Humans, Hypokalemia chemically induced, Hyponatremia chemically induced, Infant, Intensive Care Units, Pediatric, Liposomes, Male, Mycoses blood, Mycoses epidemiology, Mycoses prevention & control, Neoplasms epidemiology, Prospective Studies, Renal Insufficiency chemically induced, Amphotericin B administration & dosage, Amphotericin B adverse effects, Antifungal Agents administration & dosage, Antifungal Agents adverse effects, Mycoses drug therapy
- Abstract
What Is Known and Objective: Literature provides much evidence regarding liposomal amphotericin B treatment for fungal infections in neonates and infants. Relevant data regarding critically ill paediatric patients of older age are scarce. We aimed to present our experience regarding liposomal amphotericin B use in critically ill paediatric patients from a tertiary-care paediatric hospital in Athens, Greece., Methods: We prospectively identified all paediatric patients who received treatment with liposomal amphotericin B in the intensive care unit of a tertiary-care paediatric hospital during a 3-year period (2005-2008). Data were retrieved from the evaluation of the available medical records., Results and Discussion: Twenty-three (nine females, mean age: 26·4 months, range: 5-39 months) critically ill paediatric patients were included; 12 had malignancy. In 16 of the 23 included children, liposomal amphotericin B was administered for the treatment of confirmed fungal infections (all but one were invasive), whereas in seven patients, it was used as pre-emptive treatment. One patient received voriconazole concomitantly. Eleven of the 16 children with documented infections were cured; five improved. Six of the seven children who received pre-emptive treatment also showed clinical improvement. Nine deaths were noted, all attributed to underlying diseases. Two cases of hepatotoxicity and one case of nephrotoxicity (all leading to drug-discontinuation) occurred. Seven and five cases of mild reversible hypokalaemia and hyponatraemia, respectively, were also noted., What Is New and Conclusion: According to the findings of our small case series, liposomal amphotericin B may provide a useful treatment option for fungal infections of vulnerable critically ill paediatric patients with considerable comorbidity., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)
- Published
- 2012
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