Orointestinal yeast colonization of paediatric oncologic patients during antifungal prophylaxis: results of quantitative culture and Candida serology and comparison of three polyenes

Abstract

The orointestinal yeast colonization of 46 children with newly diagnosed malignancies was studied prospectively and longitudinally with quantitative cultures during remission induction chemotherapy. The initial colonization rate was 24%; only 28% of the patients remained free of yeasts during their entire treatment although all of them continuously received oral polyenes as antifungal prophylaxis. A randomized comparison of natamycin (suspension, lozenges), nystatin (suspension) and amphotericin B (suspension, lozenges) failed due to serious problems with patient compliance. Natamycin was best accepted by the patients and natamycin lozenges were the most efficacious drug in the oral cavity. The effectivity of the suspensions of nystatin and amphotericin B was similar; both were equally efficacious in the oral cavity and the gut. Assessment of faecal polyene concentrations by HPLC showed the highest results for amphotericin B (mean 6808 microgram(-1)). Regularly performed Candida serology (indirect haemagglutination, indirect immunofluorescence and immunodiffusion precipitation) revealed significant titre increases in 63% of the patients. In six cases, the synopsis of clinical picture, culture and serology strongly suggested systemic yeast invasion.