Amphotericin B cholesteryl sulfate microbiology
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Zaghw, M.D. [2]
Microbiology
Mechanism of Action
The active ingredient of AMPHOTEC, amphotericin B, is a polyene antibiotic that acts by binding to sterols (primarily ergosterol) in cell membranes of sensitive fungi, with subsequent leakage of intracellular contents and cell death due to changes in membrane permeability. Amphotericin B also binds to the sterols (primarily cholesterol) in mammalian cell membranes, which is believed to account for its toxicity in animals and humans.
Activity in vitro and in vivo
AMPHOTEC is active in vitro against Aspergillus and Candida species. One hundred and twelve clinical isolates of four different Aspergillusspecies and 88 clinical isolates of five different Candida species were tested, with a majority of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) < 1 μg/mL. AMPHOTEC is also active in vitro against other fungi. In vitro, AMPHOTEC is fungistatic or fungicidal, depending upon the concentration of the drug and the susceptibility of the fungal organism. However, standardized techniques for susceptibility testing for antifungal agents have not been established, and results of susceptibility studies do not necessarily correlate with clinical outcome.
AMPHOTEC is active in murine models against Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Coccidioides immitis and Cryptococcusneoformans, and in an immunosuppressed rabbit model of aspergillosis in which endpoints were prolonged survival of infected animals and clearance of microorganisms from target organ(s). AMPHOTEC also was active in a hamster model of visceral leishmaniasis, a disease caused by infection of macrophages of the mononuclear phagocytic system by a protozoal parasite of the genus Leishmania. In this hamster model the endpoints were also prolonged survival of infected animals and clearance of microorganisms from target organ(s).
Drug Resistance
Variants with reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B have been isolated from several fungal species after serial passage in cell culture media containing the drug and from some patients receiving prolonged therapy with amphotericin B deoxycholate. Although the relevance of drug resistance to clinical outcome has not been established, fungal organisms that are resistant to amphotericin B may also be resistant to AMPHOTEC.[1]
References
Adapted from the FDA Package Insert.