Successful Isavuconazole therapy in a patient with acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To report a case of acute invasive Mucorales rhinosinusitis in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome and diabetes mellitus. To provide a literature review on the role of Isavuconazole in the management of invasive Mucorales rhinosinusitis.

Methods: A literature review was conducted on August 9, 2015 using PubMed database. The keywords isavuconazole and invasive fungal rhinosinusitis were employed to identify original scientific manuscripts that describe the use of Isavuconazole in patients with invasive fungal rhinosinusitis or rhinocerebral mucormycosis.

Results: The initial search yielded 35 articles with only 1 article (case report) describing the clinical use of Isavuconazole in a patient with invasive Mucorales rhinosinusitis.

Conclusions: Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis is a rare, life-threatening infection with mortality rates reported to range from 30-83%. Successful treatment depends on early surgical debridement, systemic anti-fungal therapy, and correction of predisposing conditions. Isavuconazole (Cresemba), a newly approved antifungal, is safe and clinically effective in treating invasive mucormycosis. This important new therapy should be considered for patients with invasive Mucorales rhinosinusitis that is refractory or intolerant to Amphotericin B.