Successful treatment of Candida krusei infection with caspofungin acetate: a new antifungal agent.

OBJECTIVE

Systemic fungal infections have high mortality, and therapy is often toxic. Caspofungin acetate, a new antifungal agent with minimal toxicity, may provide a better alternative to typical therapy for Candida krusei.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) of a community teaching hospital.

PATIENT: A 22-yr-old male with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Candida krusei fungemia failed therapy with fluconazole and amphotericin B.

INTERVENTIONS: Caspofungin acetate given intravenously as a 70-mg loading dose, followed up by 50 mg daily along with standard ICU care.

RESULTS

Survival without toxicity from therapy.

CONCLUSION

Efficacy of caspofungin acetate in a patient with life-threatening Candida Krusei infection.