Efficacy of itraconazole in blastomycosis in a murine model and comparison with ketoconazole.

Mice were infected intranasally with B. dermatitidis yeasts, and after infection treated orally. Itraconazole 50-150 mg/kg/day was protective (prolonged survival) against lethal infection, although the infection was not sterilized. Itraconazole was approximately 3 times as potent as ketoconazole. These results suggest advantages for itraconazole therapy clinically.