Anti-fungal medicines
Azoles
- The most common antifungal drugs, which interfere with the enzyme involved in fungal cell
membrane synthesis, resulting in cell leakage, eventually leading to cell death
- There are two main types of azoles: imidazoles and triazoles
- Imidazoles can be used to treat blastomycosis, Candida infections and histoplasmosis
among other conditions, and include Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole and Miconazole
- Triazoles are used to treat infections such as aspergillosis, mucosal and invasive Candida
infection and coccidiomycosis, they include Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Posaconazole,
Voriconazole and Isavuconazole
Polyenes
- Polyenes kill fungal cells by making the cell wall more porous, increasing susceptibility of
bursting
- Used to treat various infections, such as aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis and
Candida infections
- Examples of polyenes include Amphotericin B and Nystatin
Allylamines
- Similar to azole anti-fungals, allylamines interfere with the enzymatic synthesis of fungal
cell membrane
- An example is Terbinafine, which is often used in the treatment of fungal infections of the
skin
Echinocandins
- These are a newer type of anti-fungal drug which inhibits the enzyme involved with the
formation of the cell wall
- Used to treat mucosal and invasive Candida infections and aspergillosis
- Examples include Anidulafungin, Caspofungin and Micafungin
Azoles
- The most common antifungal drugs, which interfere with the enzyme involved in fungal cell
membrane synthesis, resulting in cell leakage, eventually leading to cell death
- There are two main types of azoles: imidazoles and triazoles
- Imidazoles can be used to treat blastomycosis, Candida infections and histoplasmosis
among other conditions, and include Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole and Miconazole
- Triazoles are used to treat infections such as aspergillosis, mucosal and invasive Candida
infection and coccidiomycosis, they include Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Posaconazole,
Voriconazole and Isavuconazole
Polyenes
- Polyenes kill fungal cells by making the cell wall more porous, increasing susceptibility of
bursting
- Used to treat various infections, such as aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis and
Candida infections
- Examples of polyenes include Amphotericin B and Nystatin
Allylamines
- Similar to azole anti-fungals, allylamines interfere with the enzymatic synthesis of fungal
cell membrane
- An example is Terbinafine, which is often used in the treatment of fungal infections of the
skin
Echinocandins
- These are a newer type of anti-fungal drug which inhibits the enzyme involved with the
formation of the cell wall
- Used to treat mucosal and invasive Candida infections and aspergillosis
- Examples include Anidulafungin, Caspofungin and Micafungin
