Efficacy of caspofungin in neutropenic and corticosteroid-immunosuppressed murine models of invasive pulmonary mucormycosis.

Caspofungin (CFG) was tested in neutropenic and corticosteroid-immunosuppressed mice challenged with a lethal sinopulmonary inoculum of Rhizopus oryzae. Compared to untreated controls, CFG administered at 1 mg/kg of body weight/day significantly improved survival (54% versus 19%; P = 0.003) and reduced median R. oryzae fungal burden by 1.5 log(10) for conidial equivalent DNA in neutropenic but not corticosteroid-immunosuppressed animals. CFG administered at 16 mg/kg/day was not significantly better than a saline control for treatment of invasive pulmonary mucormycosis (IPM) in either neutropenic or corticosteroid-immunosuppressed animals.