Isosporiasis Treatment & Management

In immunocompetent patients, isosporiasis is a mild protracted illness. In patients with AIDS, patients with malignancy, or in patients undergoing chemotherapy, isosporiasis can be debilitating or life-threatening. Hemorrhagic colitis occurs in rare cases.

Consultation with an infectious diseases specialist, a gastroenterologist, or both may be appropriate. Only patients with chronic isosporiasis associated with severe dehydration should require continued inpatient care. Transfer patients only if the required specialists and/or therapeutic measures are not available at the institution.

Although isosporiasis is generally a self-limited infection, patients who are treated tend to improve in 2-3 days, whereas those who are not treated remain sick considerably longer.

Immunocompetent hosts generally respond very rapidly to antiparasitic therapy, with symptomatic improvement within 5 days. Immunocompromised hosts also respond well, though less rapidly. However, these individuals relapse at a high rate (50% in 2 mo) once therapy is stopped. Such patients (eg, those with AIDS) may need life-long suppressive treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ).

Care is supportive and symptomatic. Antibiotics may be administered (see Pharmacologic Therapy). Fluid replacement and correction of electrolyte imbalance are helpful. Therapy for dehydration may be the most urgent intervention required. Fluid losses may range from 2-20 L/d. Patients with severe diarrhea may require hospitalization.

No specific diet is recommended in patients with isosporiasis, but a low-protein, lactose-free diet is advised until any diarrhea has resolved.

For isosporiasis, unlike many of the protozoal infections that cause similar diseases, effective therapies are available.

Isosporiasis does not respond well to most antibiotics used to treat diarrhea. TMP-SMZ is the drug of choice because it is the best-studied and most readily available agent. Many patients with AIDS are already taking this agent as prophylaxis for Pneumocystis infection. One case report of isosporiasis refractory to TMP-SMZ has been described.^[5]

Oral TMP-SMZ is well absorbed, even in patients with enteritis. A combination of 160 mg of TMP with 800 mg of SMZ (1 double-strength tablet PO q6h for 2-4 wk) is the preferred regimen. In patients who are intolerant to sulfonamides, pyrimethamine (50-75 mg PO q24h) with folinic acid (5-10 mg PO q24h) may be given for 2-4 weeks.

Patients with AIDS may require maintenance therapy for long-term suppression of I belli, typically in the form of 1 TMP-SMZ double-strength tablet 3 times a week. An alternative for long-term prophylaxis is pyrimethamine with sulfadiazine or sulfadoxine (eg, pyrimethamine 25 mg with sulfadoxine 500 mg 3 times a week), either of which should be accompanied by folinic acid. For patients who cannot tolerate sulfonamides, ciprofloxacin or pyrimethamine plus folinic acid may be nearly as effective for both acute treatment and prophylaxis.

Studies have proposed the veterinary agent diclazuril as a possible drug of choice if further investigation confirms its use and safety.^[9] Doxycycline, roxithromycin, and nitazoxanide^{[10, 11]} are reported to have some efficacy, but the clinical data available are insufficient to recommend their routine use at present.

Anecdotal case reports also document improvement with albendazole, bismuth subsalicylate, furazolidone, metronidazole, and quinacrine; again, however, clinical trials are lacking.

Isosporiasis is a food-borne and water-borne illness. Consequently, the practice of hygienic measures may help in preventing transmission. It is important to avoid possible exposure to contaminated food and water insofar as is possible.

Appropriate isolation measures should be used because shedding of oocysts may last for weeks.