Voriconazole (VCZ)

Voriconazole is a triazole antifungal medication that is generally used to treat serious, invasive fungal infections. These are generally seen in patients who are immunocompromised, and include invasive candidiasis, invasive aspergillosis, and certain emerging fungal infections. Voriconazole has proven to be as effective as a regimen of IV amphotericin B followed by oral fluconazole in patients with culture-proven candidemia. Voriconazole cleared Candida from the bloodstream as quickly as amphotericin B (median 2 days) and showed a trend toward better survival. Voriconazole was also associated with fewer serious adverse events and cases of renal toxicity, but a higher incidence of visual disturbances. Voriconazole has become the new standard of care in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis, which may occur in immunocompromised patients, including allogeneic BMT, hematologic cancers, and solid organ transplants.