[Amphotericin B level in feces and serum during oral administration in newborns at risk].

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of orally administered amphotericin B (Ampho B) on the elimination and suppression of yeasts in the orointestinal tract and on the clinical success regarding the Ampho B concentrations in faeces and serum. A total of 23 newborns at risk suffering from oral and/or cutaneous candidosis and massive colonization of yeasts in the orointestinal tract received Ampho-Moronal suspension (Squibb-Heyden, München) for 10 days: newborns < 1500 g 4 x 20 mg Ampho B/d and newborns > 1500 g 4 x 40 mg/d. Ampho B was detected in concentrations between 0.6 and 20 micrograms/g in the faeces of all patients 24 hours after beginning and 2-6 days after the end of the application. During this time Ampho B concentrations between 0.06 and 0.58 microgram/ml were also detected in the serum of the newborns. During the administration of Ampho-Moronal suspension for 10 days the initial available yeasts were eliminated in 18 patients (78%) out of the faeces. In 7 out of 17 patients (41%) the oral and cutaneous candidosis was cured. After finishing the administration of Ampho-Moronal Candida albicans was isolated again from the faeces during the following 5 days in half of the newborns who had reached negative mycological findings during the prophylaxis. For that reason Ampho-Moronal should be prophylactically administered for a longer time during the period of increased risk for systemic mycosis.