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Biomedical subjects

B Elewski

Publications and source records attributed to B Elewski.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Efficacy and safety of terbinafine 1% solution in the treatment of interdigital tinea pedis and tinea corporis or tinea cruris.

Two randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, multicenter studies assessed the efficacy and safety of a new terbinafine 1% solution for the treatment of interdigital tinea pedis and tinea corporis or tinea cruris (tinea corporis/cruris). Patients with interdigital tinea pedis applied terbinafine 1% solution or vehicle twice daily for 1 week with 7 weeks of follow-up (N = 153), and patients with tinea corporis/cruris applied terbinafine 1% solution or vehicle once daily for 1 week with 3 weeks of follow-up (N = 66). Efficacy was assessed mycologically and clinically at the end of treatment and throughout follow-up. In the tinea pedis study, 66% of patients were effectively treated with terbinafine compared with 4% of the group treated by vehicle (P < .001; Mantel-Haenszel test). In the tinea corporis/cruris study, treatment was effective in 65% of the terbinafine group compared with 8% of the vehicle group (P < .001). There were no significant differences in the frequency of cutaneous adverse events between the 2 groups in either study. We conclude that one week of therapy with terbinafine 1% solution is highly effective, superior to vehicle, and safe for use in superficial fungal infections.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

The safety and efficacy of terbinafine in patients with diabetes and patients who are HIV positive.

Superficial fungal infections are commonly encountered in dermatologic practices. Their incidence is increasing because of the use of immunosuppressive drugs, an aging population, and the increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Topical antifungal therapy typically has been the treatment of choice for uncomplicated dermatophytoses of the skin, such as tinea pedis and tinea cruris. However, these infections may be particularly difficult to treat in high-risk patients, such as those who have diabetes or who are HIV positive. In patients with HIV, dermatophytoses tend to be more extensive and generally require oral antifungal therapy. The allylamine terbinafine has a proven safety record and no significant drug interactions. We review the clinical experience with terbinafine in diabetic and HIV-positive subjects and conclude that terbinafine is safe and has a low drug interaction potential in these high-risk cohort studies.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

A large-scale North American study of fungal isolates from nails: the frequency of onychomycosis, fungal distribution, and antifungal susceptibility patterns.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail bed, is responsible for up to 50% of nail disorders. Although several surveys have been conducted in different parts of the world, there have been no multicenter epidemiologic surveys of onychomycosis in North America. OBJECTIVE: A 12-center study was undertaken to (1) determine the frequency of onychomycosis, (2) identify organisms recovered from the nails, and (3) determine the antifungal susceptibility of isolates. METHODS: A total of 1832 subjects participated in this study and completed a comprehensive questionnaire, and nail clippings were collected for potassium hydroxide examination and culturing. RESULTS: The frequency of onychomycosis, as defined by the presence of septate hyphae on direct microscopy and/or the recovery of a dermatophyte, was found to be 13.8%. In general, the dermatophyte isolates were susceptible to the antifungals tested. CONCLUSION: Because of the limited number of large-scale studies, the baseline incidence is not firmly established. However, the higher frequency of onychomycosis in this study may confirm the suspected increase in incidence of disease in North America.

Adolescent↗

Successful treatment of fluconazole-resistant oropharyngeal candidiasis by a combination of fluconazole and terbinafine.

Increasing incidence of resistance to conventional antifungal therapy has demanded that novel therapies be introduced. Recent in vitro studies have shown that combinations involving azoles and allylamines may be effective in inhibiting fluconazole-resistant fungi. In this report, we describe the case of a 39-year-old woman who presented with white patches on her buccal mucosa, tongue, and palate with a bright erythematous erosive base. A fungal culture revealed Candida albicans. The patient failed to respond to the initially prescribed fluconazole therapy. Failure of therapy can be attributed to a developed resistance to fluconazole from the patient's intermittent use of this antifungal agent at varying dosages for the preceding 2 years due to a diagnosis of onychomycosis. In vitro testing of the culture from the patient showed elevated MICs of fluconazole, itraconzole, and terbinafine (MICs were 32, 0.5, and 64 microg/ml, respectively). Our goal was to combine therapies of fluconazole and terbinafine in an attempt to clear the fungal infection. Impressively, this combination resulted in the clearing of the clinical symptoms and the patient has successfully been asymptomatic for more than 12 months posttreatment.

Adult↗

Treatment of interdigital tinea pedis with a 4-week once-daily regimen of butenafine hydrochloride 1% cream.

BACKGROUND: Butenafine hydrochloride, a potent new benzylamine with fungicidal activity, has been extensively studied and approved for topical use in Japan. Results reported here are from one of the first major North American butenafine clinical trials. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated butenafine in the treatment of tinea pedis in a controlled, randomized, double-blind trial. METHODS: Of 80 patients with positive fungal cultures, 40 applied butenafine 1% cream and 40 applied vehicle to the affected area once daily for 4 weeks. Efficacy was assessed during treatment and 4 weeks after. RESULTS: Significantly more patients using butenafine than using vehicle had mycologic cure (butenafine, 88%; vehicle, 33%) and effective clinical response (butenafine, 78%; vehicle, 35%). Differences between treatment groups were greatest (p < 0.001) 4 weeks after treatment. CONCLUSION: Butenafine applied once daily for 4 weeks resulted in an effective clinical response and mycologic cure of tinea pedis during treatment. Patients continued to improve for at least 4 weeks after treatment.

Administration, Topical↗

One-week therapy with twice-daily butenafine 1% cream versus vehicle in the treatment of tinea pedis: a multicenter, double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: Butenafine hydrochloride, a benzylamine derivative with potent antifungal activity, has been used in Japan to treat superficial fungal diseases. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of twice-daily butenafine versus its vehicle in the treatment of interdigital tinea pedis in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial. METHODS: A total of 402 patients with interdigital tinea pedis and a positive potassium hydroxide examination were enrolled. Of the 271 patients who had culture-confirmed tinea pedis and were assessed for efficacy, 132 applied butenafine and 139 applied vehicle twice daily for 1 week. Patients were assessed for mycologic cure, effective treatment, overall cure, and mycologic/clinical cure. RESULTS: The rates of all four end points were significantly higher with butenafine than with vehicle 5 weeks after treatment ended. Rates of mycologic cure and effective treatment with butenafine were significantly higher than with vehicle at cessation of treatment. Adverse events to treatment occurred in less than 1% of patients treated with butenafine and 2% of patients who applied vehicle. CONCLUSION: Butenafine applied twice daily for 1 week is highly effective in treating interdigital tinea pedis.

Administration, Topical↗

Fungal infections in HIV-infected patients.

Opportunistic fungal infections are commonly encountered in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patient population. Fungal infections in the patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The yeasts Candida and Cryptococcus neoformans, the dimorphic fungi Histoplasma capsulatum and Sporothrix schenckii, and the dermatophyte fungi are the most common pathogenic fungi in patients infected with HIV. The characteristics of these and other relevant mycotic pathogens, and their clinical presentation are discussed. Mycoses in the patient infected with HIV are often atypical, and can be masked by other infections. Cutaneous manifestations may provide valuable diagnostic clues. The clinician must maintain a high index of suspicion to establish an early diagnosis and rapidly institute therapy. Treatment may suppress rather than cure the mycosis, because host immunity in conjunction with antifungal agents is necessary to eliminate infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Superficial fungal infections. Errors to avoid in diagnosis and treatment.

Superficial fungal infections are easily managed once the proper diagnosis is made. However, misdiagnosis is not uncommon, and many standard approaches to treatment popular just a few years ago are now out of date or in need of refinement. Through nine illustrative cases, the authors describe pitfalls in diagnosis and treatment of common fungal infections involving the skin, hair, and nails.

Adult↗

Tinea capitis.

Tinea capitis is dermatophytosis of the scalp hair follicles, generally producing inflammatory or noninflammatory alopecia. Infection occurs predominantly in prepubertal children older than 6 months, although infection can occur in all age groups. Tinea capitis is one of the most common infectious conditions in children, and it occurs worldwide.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Cutaneous involvement with Cryptococcus neoformans in AIDS.

Patients infected with HIV are susceptible to many opportunistic fungal infections. Cryptococcus neoformans infection is particularly common in patients with AIDS. We describe a patient with disseminated cryptococcosis resembling molluscum contagiosum and review the typical cutaneous manifestations of disseminated cryptococcosis. A synopsis of case reports in the English literature is also presented.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Pigmented postacne osteoma cutis in a patient treated with minocycline: report and review of the literature.

Postacne osteoma cutis is a rare complication of acne vulgaris. If it occurs during a course of tetracycline or minocycline therapy, pigmented osteomas can occur as a result of tetracycline or minocycline bone complexes. We report a case of pigmented postacne osteoma cutis that developed after extensive acne surgery and a 2- to 3-month course of minocycline. Previously reported cases have been treated surgically, but our patient responded to 0.05% tretinoin cream, with transepidermal elimination of some osteomas.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Rosacea-like lesions due to familial Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection.

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) is a non-tuberculous, nonlepromatous or "atypical" mycobacterium now seen frequently in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In the past decade, the incidence appears to have increased in non-AIDS patients. Although cutaneous involvement is rare, two brothers without detectable immune defects who both presented with cutaneous MAI infection are described; the older brother also has disseminated disease. The cutaneous presentation of MAI, as well as immune and genetic defects that may predispose to mycobacterial infection, are discussed.

Adult↗