Use in Pediatric Patients for the Treatment of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis
An open-label, randomized, controlled trial has shown DIFLUCAN to be effective in the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in pediatric patients 6 months to 13 years of age. (See CLINICAL STUDIES.)
Use in Pediatric Patients for the Treatment of Candida Esophagitis, Systemic Candida Infections, or Cryptococcal Meningitis
The use of DIFLUCAN in pediatric patients with cryptococcal meningitis, Candida esophagitis, or systemic Candida infections is supported by the efficacy shown for these indications in adults and by the results from several small noncomparative pediatric clinical studies. In addition, pharmacokinetic studies in pediatric patients (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY) have established a dose proportionality between pediatric patients and adults. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION.)
In a noncomparative study of DIFLUCAN administered to pediatric patients (from birth to less than 17 years) with serious systemic fungal infections, most of which were candidemia, the effectiveness of DIFLUCAN was similar to that reported for the treatment of candidemia in adults. Of 17 subjects with culture-confirmed candidemia, 11 of 14 (79%) with baseline symptoms (3 were asymptomatic) had a clinical cure; 13/15 (87%) of evaluable patients had a mycologic cure at the end of treatment but two of these patients relapsed at 10 and 18 days, respectively, following cessation of therapy.
The efficacy of DIFLUCAN for the suppression of cryptococcal meningitis was successful in 4 of 5 pediatric patients (4 years to 10 years of age) treated in a compassionate-use study of fluconazole for the treatment of life-threatening or serious mycosis. There are limited clinical data to support the efficacy of DIFLUCAN for the primary treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in pediatric patients.
The safety profile of DIFLUCAN has been studied in 577 pediatric patients from 1 day to 17 years of age who received doses ranging from 1 to 15 mg/kg/day for 1 to 1,616 days. (See ADVERSE REACTIONS.)
Use in Pediatric Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
A prospective, open-label, single-center study was conducted to determine the PK and safety of fluconazole in pediatric patients (ages: from birth to 17 years of age) on ECMO (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY). A loading dose of 35-mg/kg is recommended in pediatric patients on ECMO due to increased volume of distribution (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).
Use in Prophylaxis of Invasive Candida Infections in Pediatric Patients (premature infants weighing less than 750 grams at birth)
Safety and effectiveness of DIFLUCAN for the prophylaxis of invasive candidiasis in pediatric patients (premature infants weighing less than 750 grams at birth) have not been established.
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial was conducted in premature infants weighing less than 750 grams at birth to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic DIFLUCAN 6-mg/kg administered twice weekly for 6 weeks versus placebo (NCT00734539). Efficacy was assessed using the endpoint of death or candidiasis by study day 49. The results are summarized in Table 4.
Table 4: Death or Candidiasis by Day 49 in Premature Infants Receiving DIFLUCAN Prophylaxis | DIFLUCAN (N=188) n (%) | Placebo (N=173) n (%) | P-value | Difference (95% CI) |
Death or candidiasis
| 33 (17.6) | 38 (22.0) | 0.2954 | -4.4(-12.6, 3.8) |
Components of endpoint
Death Candidiasis Missing |
27 (14.4)
6 (3.2) 2 (1.0) |
25 (14.5)
16 (9.2) 1 (0.5) | | |
The most common fatal serious adverse reactions in the DIFLUCAN vs placebo arms, respectively, were necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), 9 (5%) vs 9 (5%); neonatal bacterial sepsis, 6 (3%) vs 7 (4%); and neonatal respiratory failure, 4 (2%) vs 2 (0.6%).
The most common serious adverse reactions (>5%) reported in patients receiving DIFLUCAN prophylaxis are displayed in Table 5.
Table 5: Serious Adverse Reactions Occurring in >5% of Infants Receiving DIFLUCAN ProphylaxisAdverse Reaction | DIFLUCAN (N=188) n (%) | Placebo (N=173) n (%) |
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) | 27 (14) | 28 (16) |
Intestinal Perforation (includes ileal/small intestinal perforation) | 13 (7) | 7 (4) |
Neonatal Respiratory Arrest/ Neonatal Respiratory Failure | 13 (7) | 4 (2) |
Bacterial Sepsis, Neonatal | 10 (5) | 12 (7) |