What treatment regimen is commonly administered for cerebral toxoplasmosis?

The treatment regimen commonly administered for cerebral toxoplasmosis is pyrimethamine combined with sulfadiazine. This combination is effective because pyrimethamine acts as a folic acid antagonist, which inhibits nucleotide synthesis and thus impairs the replication of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. Sulfadiazine is a sulfonamide antibiotic that enhances the efficacy of pyrimethamine by acting as a second agent to disrupt folate synthesis. Together, they have been shown to significantly improve outcomes in patients with this condition.

Further, this regimen is particularly indicated in immunocompromised patients, such as those with HIV/AIDS, where reactivation of latent T. gondii infection can lead to cerebral toxoplasmosis. Treatment typically also includes leucovorin (folinic acid) to mitigate the myelosuppressive effects of pyrimethamine.

Other treatments mentioned, such as acyclovir, are primarily used for viral infections such as herpes simplex virus, while rifampin and ethambutol are used in the treatment of tuberculosis. Furthermore, vancomycin and ceftriaxone are antibiotics used for bacterial infections, particularly for treating certain types of pneumonia, meningitis, and skin infections, but are not effective against the