How to Treat Scedosporium Prolificans With Terbinafine

According to the "Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy," scedosporium prolificans is a fungus discovered in 1984 that is capable of producing spores in tissues and then spreading to other organs in a patient's body. The fungus is considered opportunistic because it occurs in those with already compromised immune systems. The fungus has typically invaded persons experiencing post-transplantation therapy and infiltrative joint injuries. Scedosporium prolificans has also been found to be the culprit of toenail infections, known as onychomycosis, and infections of the eye, referred to as mycotic keratitis. The "European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases" published the results of a clinical trial proving that the fungus, with nearly a 100 percent mortality rate prior to 2003, may be suppressed with the right combination of the anti-fungal drugs, terbinafine and voriconazole.

Instructions

• 1

  Request that your physician take cultures of your fungal infection to confirm the presence of scedosporium prolificans. Anti-fungal drugs such as terbinafine have been clinically proven to cause liver enzyme abnormalities and must not be taken casually without strict physician follow-up. In a case report cited in the "European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases," a 55-year-old woman developed an aneurysm in an artery in her liver after only two weeks of being given a combination of terbinafine and itraconazole.

• 2

  Prepare to take anti-fungal therapy for several months up to perhaps two years. Combination therapy of 200 mg of voriconazole and 250 mg of terbinafine by mouth twice a day for 15 months in our 55-year-old case study showed destruction of the invasive scedosporium prolificans fungi while maintaining normal liver function.

• 3

  Take your anti-fungal drug combination therapy as prescribed. Keep in mind that scedosporium prolificans is a resistant fungus making it difficult to kill. If helpful, set electronic reminders for yourself to take your medicine on time every day. Attend follow-up appointments with your physician as recommended to track your progress. You may undergo ongoing blood testing to evaluate your liver enzymes for proper liver functioning.