Administration and monitoring of clofazimine for NTM infections in children with and without cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Few studies have evaluated clofazimine (CLOF) drug monitoring and safety in children. We treated 10 children, 8 with CF, for NTM infection with multiple antimicrobials, including CLOF. All had serial blood CLOF concentrations measured and were followed for adverse events. Despite CLOF dose escalation, most children with CF did not reach a target CLOF concentration. Our data suggest that children with CF may require earlier initiation of CLOF at higher doses than is currently recommended.

Keywords: Clofazimine; Mycobacterium abscessus; Mycobacterium avium intracellularae; NTM; Non-tuberculous mycobacterium infections in children.