Polyhexamethylene biguanide and calcineurin inhibitors as novel antifungal treatments for Aspergillus keratitis.

Purpose: To establish polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) as an effective treatment for Aspergillus keratitis in a novel murine model. To determine the ability of the calcineurin inhibitors tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporine A (CSA) to enhance the activity of PHMB, amphotericin B (AMB), and voriconazole (VCZ) against Aspergillus keratitis.

In Vitro Studies: Broth antifungal susceptibility tests were performed with PHMB, AMB, VCZ, and FK506, individually and in combination against Aspergillus fumigatus.