Inclusion Criteria:

- diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia

- patients entering first induction treatment; or subsequent chemotherapy if no prior
invasive fungal infection was observed

- expected to be neutropenic for >9 and <28 days after enrollment

- women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test

Exclusion Criteria:

- patients who received any systemic antifungal therapy for more than 72 hours prior to
first administration of study medication. Topical polyenes or nystatin are
acceptable but should be discontinued during the study

- patients who received systemic antifungal therapy for proven or probable fungal
infection in the last 12 months

- patients with fever defined as central body temperature of > 38°C

- known hypersensitivity to azoles or any component of the study medication

- concomitant use of rifampicin, rifabutin, ergots alkaloids, terfenadine, astemizole,
cisapride, pimozide, quinidine, long acting barbiturates, neostigmine, and
carbamazepine

- hepatic or severe renal dysfunction

- patients with a medical history of oliguria unresponsive to fluid challenge

- patients with a concomitant medical condition that may be an unacceptable additional
risk to the patient should he/she participate in the study

- treatment with any investigational drug within 30 days prior to the first
administration of study medication except open label chemotherapy protocols

- suspected other or additional cause for neutropenia or immunosuppression