Cocktail of antifungals & antibacterials may be effective against C. auris
NEW YORK: Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have just demonstrated that a cocktail of anti-fungal and anti-bacterial drugs may be an effective tool in the fight against the novel superbug, Candida auris (C. auris).
The researchers used a a modified inkjet printer to study any potential synergies of combining 3 anti-fungal drugs, 1 from each of the main types of anti-fungals, with 2 anti-bacterial anti-biotics, whose use on their own has not exhibited any anti-fungal action. Extensive testing ultimately led the researchers in finding 3 unique combinations of anti-fungal and anti-bacterial medications that exhibited activity against the superbug. Furthermore, using the time-kill test methodology, the researchers demonstrated that 2 of the anti-bacterial/anti-fungal combinations were actually able to kill certain types of the C. auris strains.
While the combinations of medications which were tested have not yet been tried on patients with C. auris infections, the combinations' component medications -- the anti-fungals caspofungin & amphotericin, and the anti-bacterials rifampin & minocycline -- have already been approved by the FDA for use on patients against a wide range of infections. Therefore, if studies on humans confirm BIDMC's research findings, then physicians will most likely be able to use existing treatment options to manage C. auris patient cases.
About Amphotericin
Amphotericin B is an anti-fungal drug used for the treatment of leishmaniasis as well as severe fungal infections such as cryptococcosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, and candidiasis,.
About Caspofungin
Caspofungin is used for the treatment of a wide range of fungal infections. Its action involves the arrest of the spread of fungi.
About Minocycline
Minocycline is a tetracycline anti-biotic used for the treatment of various bacterial infections. It is even used for treating conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and acne.
About Rifampicin
Rifampicin is an anti-biotic medication used for the treatment of a variety of bacterial infections, including Legionnaires' disease, leprosy, Mycobacterium avium complex, and tuberculosis.
