Experience with amphotericin-B in the treatment of systemic candidiasis in burn patients

Abstract

Systemic candidiasis has emerged as a major cause of death in burn patients. An increase both in the incidence of systemic candidiasis and its increase as a cause of death has been observed. Treatment with systemic amphotericin-B prior to 1971 at our institution was rarely successful. This was felt to be in part due to lack of sufficiently early recognition of the infection and to delay in the initiation of appropriate systemic therapy. From 1971 to 1975, fifteen patients have been treated with systemic amphotericin-B with one death. There have been no fatalities from candidiasis since 1972. No serious complications attributed to the use of amphotericin-B were observed. Prompt initiation of therapy with intravenous amphotericin-B is advised for burn patients in whom systemic candidiasis is present.