Candidiasis Organism-Specific Therapy 

Updated: Jul 03, 2018
Author: Jose A Vazquez, MD, FACP, FIDSA; Chief Editor: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD 

Specific Organisms and Therapeutic Regimens

The Candida species produce a wide spectrum of diseases ranging from superficial to invasive illnesses.

Treatments used to manage Candida infections[1] vary substantially and are based on the anatomic location of the infection, the patients’ underlying disease and immune status, the patients’ risk factors for infection, the specific species of Candida responsible for infection, and, in some cases, the susceptibility of the Candida species to specific antifungal drugs.[2]

Urinary tract infections

Common organisms:

  • C albicans, C glabrata, C tropicalis

Asymptomatic cystitis:

  • Therapy not usually indicated, unless patients are at high risk

  • Patients undergoing urologic procedures: fluconazole 200-400 mg daily or amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmB-d) 0.3-0.6 mg/kg/day for several days before and after procedure

Symptomatic cystitis:

  • Fluconazole 200 mg daily for 14d or

  • Flucytosine 25 mg/kg QID for 7-10d or

  • AmB-d 0.3-0.6 mg/kg for 1-7d

Pyelonephritis:

  • Fluconazole 200-400 mg daily for 14d or

  • AmB-d 0.5-0.7 mg/kg with or without flucytosine 25 mg/kg QID or

  • Flucytosine 25 mg/kg QID for 14d alone

Vulvovaginal candidiasis

See the list below:

  • Common organisms: C albicans, C glabrata, C tropicalis, C parapsilosis

  • Fluconazole 150 mg PO as a single dose for uncomplicated vaginitis or

  • Butoconazole 2% cream: 1 applicator per vagina q24h at bedtime for 3d or

  • Clotrimazole 100 mg: 2 tablets per vagina at bedtime for 3 nights or

  • Miconazole 200 mg vaginal suppository: 1 suppository at bedtime per vagina for 3d or

  • Ibrexafungerp 300 mg PO BID x 1 day[5]

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis[3] :

  • Fluconazole 150 mg weekly for 6mo after initial control of the recurrent episode

Chronic disseminated candidiasis

See the list below:

  • Fluconazole 400 mg daily for stable patients or

  • Lipid formulation of amphotericin B (LFAmB): 3-5 mg/kg IV daily for severely ill patients or

  • AmB-d 0.5-0.7 mg/kg daily for severely ill patients

  • Therapy should continue until lesions have resolved (usually months)

  • Continue therapy through periods of immunosuppression; after patient is stable, switch to fluconazole

Alternative regimens:

  • Echinocandin therapy

  • Anidulafungin 200 mg loading dose, then 100 mg daily or

  • Caspofungin 70 mg loading dose, then 50 mg daily or

  • Micafungin 100 mg daily

CNS candidiasis

See the list below:

  • Common organisms: C albicans, C glabrata, C tropicalis, C krusei, C parapsilosis[4]

  • LFAmB 3-5 mg/kg IV daily with or without flucytosine 25 mg/kg QID for several weeks, followed by fluconazole 400-800 mg daily or

  • Fluconazole 400-800 mg daily for patients unable to tolerate LFAmB

Candida osteoarticular infection

Common organisms:

  • C albicans, C glabrata, C tropicalis, C krusei, C parapsilosis

Osteomyelitis:

  • Fluconazole 400 mg daily for at least 6-12mo or

  • LFAmB 3-5 mg/kg IV daily for at least 2wk, then fluconazole for 6-12mo or

  • Caspofungin 70 mg loading dose, then 50 mg daily or

  • Micafungin 100 mg daily or

  • Anidulafungin 200 mg loading dose, then 100 mg daily or

  • AmB-d 0.5-1 mg/kg daily for at least 2wk, then fluconazole for 6-12mo

Septic arthritis:

  • Fluconazole 400 mg daily for at least 6wk or

  • LFAmB 3-5 mg/kg IV daily for at least 2wk, followed by fluconazole 400 mg daily or

  • Caspofungin 70 mg loading dose, then 50 mg daily or

  • Micafungin 100 mg daily or

  • Anidulafungin 200 mg loading dose, then 100 mg daily or

  • AmB-d 0.5-1 mg/kg daily for at least 2wk, then fluconazole 400 mg for remainder of therapy

  • Duration of therapy: at least 6wk

Candida endophthalmitis

See the list below:

  • Common organisms: C albicans, C glabrata, C tropicalis, C krusei, C parapsilosis

  • AmB-d 0.7-1 mg/kg plus flucytosine 25 mg/kg QID or

  • Fluconazole 400-800 mg daily (loading dose of 12 mg/kg, then 6–12 mg/kg daily) or

  • LFAmB 3-5 mg/kg daily or

  • Voriconazole 6 mg/kg BID for 2 doses, then 3-4 mg/kg BID or

  • Duration of therapy: at least 4-6wk

  • Surgical intervention for patients with severe endophthalmitis or vitreitis

Candida of the cardiovascular system

Common organisms:

  • C albicans, C glabrata, C tropicalis, C krusei, C parapsilosis

Endocarditis:

  • LFAmB 3-5 mg/kg daily IV with our without flucytosine 25 mg/kg QID or

  • AmB-d 0.6-1 mg/kg daily with or without flucytosine 25 mg/kg QID or

  • Caspofungin 50-150 mg daily or

  • Micafungin 100-150 mg daily or

  • Anidulafungin 100-200 mg daily

  • Valve replacement is highly recommended to improve outcome

  • If valve replacement is not performed, chronic suppression is recommended with fluconazole 400-800 mg daily

  • Lifelong suppressive therapy is recommended in prosthetic valve endocarditis if valve cannot be replaced

Pericarditis or myocarditis:

  • LFAmB 3-5 mg/kg daily or

  • Fluconazole 400-800 mg daily or

  • Caspofungin 50-150 mg daily or

  • Micafungin 100-150 mg daily or

  • Anidulafungin 100-200 mg daily

  • After patient is stable, step-down therapy to fluconazole 400-800 mg daily can be initiated

  • Duration of therapy: often for several months

Suppurative thrombophlebitis:

  • LFAmB 3-5mg/kg IV daily or

  • Fluconazole 400-800 mg daily or

  • Caspofungin 50-150 mg daily or

  • Micafungin 100-150 mg daily or

  • Anidulafungin 100-200 mg daily

  • After patient is stable, step-down therapy to fluconazole 400-800 mg daily can be initiated

  • Treat for at least 2wk after candidemia has cleared

  • Surgical incision and drainage or resection of infected vessel may be necessary

Nongenital mucocutaneous candidiasis

Common organisms:

  • C albicans, C glabrata, C tropicalis, C dubliniensis, C parapsilosis

Oropharyngeal:

Uncomplicated disease:

  • 7-14d of therapy for uncomplicated infections

Moderate to severe disease:

  • Fluconazole is recommended

Mild disease:

  • Topical therapy with clotrimazole or nystatin is usually recommended

Refractory disease (use itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, or amphotericin B [AmB] suspension):

  • Clotrimazole troches 10 mg 5 times daily or

  • Nystatin suspension or pastilles QID or

  • Fluconazole 100-200 mg PO daily or

  • Itraconazole solution 200 mg PO daily or

  • Miconazole buccal tablets 50 mg daily or

  • Posaconazole 400 mg PO daily or

  • Voriconazole 200 mg PO BID or

  • AmB-d 0.3 mg/kg daily

Esophageal:

  • Fluconazole 200-400 mg PO daily or

  • AmB-d 0.3-0.7 mg/kg daily or

  • Caspofungin 50 mg daily or

  • Micafungin 150 mg daily or

  • Anidulafungin 200 mg daily or

  • Voriconazole 200 mg PO BID or

  • Posaconazole 400 mg PO BID or

  • Itraconazole oral solution 200 mg PO daily

  • Duration of therapy: 14-21d

Candidemia

Common organisms:

  • C albicans, C glabrata, C tropicalis, C krusei, C parapsilosis

Nonneutropenia patients:

  • Fluconazole 800 mg loading dose, then 400 mg daily or

  • Caspofungin 70 mg loading dose, then 50 mg daily or

  • Micafungin 100 mg daily or

  • Anidulafungin 200 mg loading dose, then 100 mg daily or

  • LFAmB 3-5mg/kg IV daily or

  • AmB-d 0.5-1 mg/kg daily or

  • Voriconazole 400 mg BID for 2 doses, then 200 mg BID

  • Treatment for 14d after first negative blood culture result and resolution of signs and symptoms

Neutropenia patients:

  • Caspofungin 70 mg loading dose, then 50 mg daily or

  • Micafungin 100 mg daily or

  • Anidulafungin 200 mg loading dose, then 100 mg daily or

  • LFAmB 3-5mg/kg IV daily or

  • Fluconazole 800 mg loading dose, then 400 mg daily or

  • Voriconazole 400 mg BID for 2 doses, then 200 mg BID

  • Duration of therapy: 14d after blood cultures are sterile

Candida from bronchoalveolar lavage or respiratory secretions

See the list below:

  • Common organisms: C albicans, C glabrata, C tropicalis, C krusei, C parapsilosis

  • Therapy generally not recommended