Failure of an Approximately Six Week Course of Tafenoquine to Completely Eradicate Infection in an Immunocompromised Patient

Authors

Prithiv J. Prasad, Division of Infectious Diseases, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Gary P. Wormser, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.

Author Type(s)

Faculty

Journal Title

Pathogens

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-15-2022

Department

Medicine

Abstract

Although tafenoquine was highly effective for eliminating microscopically detectable parasitemia in mouse models of infection, all of the mice which were assessed developed a relapse of infection, except for those which had been treated concomitantly with artesunate. We report an immunocompromised patient with a similar relapse of parasitemia despite a 46-day course of tafenoquine treatment. More data on whether a longer duration of tafenoquine treatment or using a higher maintenance dose, versus adding a second drug to the regimen, will prevent relapse when tafenoquine is used to treat a highly immunocompromised patient with babesiosis should be investigated.

Recommended Citation

Prasad, P. J., & Wormser, G. P. (2022). Failure of an Approximately Six Week Course of Tafenoquine to Completely Eradicate Infection in an Immunocompromised Patient. Pathogens, 11 (9). https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11091051