PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 12 and over Life expectancy: At least 72 hours Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL Other: No history of hypersensitivity or intolerance to azole antifungal agents including miconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, or itraconazole No history of hypersensitivity or severe intolerance to conventional or lipid formulations of amphotericin B Not pregnant or nursing Fertile women must use effective contraception Negative pregnancy test No prior participation on this trial Not on artificial ventilation and unlikely to be extubated within 24 hours No condition that could affect patient safety, preclude evaluation of response, or make study completion unlikely