Miconazole in systemic candidiasis.

Based on our experience with our first patients, miconazole is now the drug of choice in cases of systemic and pulmonary candidal infection. Initially we prefer the parenteral route of administration which is continued for only one or two weeks after a negative finding in culture. The dosage is 1.2 g per day for a 70 kg patient. Thereafter the treatment is continued orally for another four weeks. Miconazole is well documented as a drug without serious side-effects, but the incidence of candidal infections in about 1% of our surgical patients does not justify its prophylactic administration. Like antibiotics, miconazole is given only when there is a clinical manifestation and a positive finding in culture.