The following is a summary of “Application and evaluation of topical amphotericin B for the treatment of respiratory fungal infections,” published in the April 2024 issue of Infectious Disease by Cui et al.

As respiratory fungal infections become more common, polyene antifungals, especially amphotericin B, remain crucial for treatment.

Researchers conducted a retrospective study assessing the effectiveness and safety of applying amphotericin B directly to the respiratory tract for treating fungal infections.

They analyzed patients admitted to hospitals treated with topically administered AmB (Amphotericin B) for respiratory fungal infections from January 2014 to June 2023.

The results showed that 36 patients with invasive pulmonary fungal infections who received topical administration of AmB were gathered and analyzed. Nebulization was administered to 27 patients. After treatment, 17 patients showed improvement, while 10 patients did not respond and passed away in the hospital. One patient experienced an irritating cough as an adverse reaction. Tracheoscopic installation was performed on seven patients, and intrapleural irrigation was conducted on two patients, achieving good clinical therapeutic efficacy without adverse effects.

Investigators concluded that combining systemic antifungal treatment with topical AmB achieved positive therapeutic effects and was well-tolerated by the patients, as evidenced by close monitoring of routine blood tests and organ function.

Source: bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-024-09342-9