5-Fluorocytosine in the Treatment of Mycotic Infections

Abstract

Twenty-two patients with deep-seated mycotic infections were treated with 5-fluorocytosine: in 8 patients the infection was caused by species of Crypfococcus; in 8, Candida albicans; in 3, Phialophora species; in 1, Torulopsis glabrata; in 1, Sporothrix schenckii; and in 1, Aspergillus fumigatus. Apparent cure was achieved in 11 patients; 6 more showed significant improvement, but 5 were judged to be treatment failures. In some instances this new fungal antimetabolite was effective in cases that had not responded to amphotericin B. Because oral administration produces effective tissue levels, and side effects are rare and usually transient, this drug is a welcome addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for mycotic infections. It may become the drug of choice for the treatment of chromoblastomycosis.