Antifungal Extraction by the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit

The Journal of ExtraCorporeal Technology September 2017

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Watt KM, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Williams DC, Bonadonna DK, Cheifetz IM, Thakker D, Benjamin DK Jr, Brouwer KLR

Invasive candidiasis is common and often fatal in patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and treatment relies on optimal antifungal dosing. The ECMO circuit can extract drug and decrease drug exposure, placing the patient at risk of therapeutic failure. This ex vivo study determined the extraction of antifungal drugs by the ECMO circuit. Fluconazole and micafungin were studied separately in three closed-loop circuit configurations to isolate the impact of the oxygenator, hemofilter, and tubing on circuit extraction.

Fluconazole population pharmacokinetics and dosing for prevention and treatment of invasive Candidiasis in children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy • June 2015

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Watt KM, Gonzalez D, Benjamin DK Jr, Brouwer KL, Wade KC, Capparelli E, Barrett J, Cohen-Wolkowiez M.

Candida infections are a leading cause of infectious disease-related death in children supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The ECMO circuit can alter drug pharmacokinetics (PK); thus, standard fluconazole dosing may result in suboptimal drug exposures. The objective of our study was to determine the PK of fluconazole in children on ECMO. Forty children with 367 PK samples were included in the analysis.