11 - Antifungals Flashcards

1
Q

What predisposes someone to serious fungal infections?

A

Immunocompromised
Broad-spectrum antibacterial use
Indwelling catheters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are classifications of mycosis?

A

Systemic (potentially life-threatening): in immunosuppressed, geographically organized

Superficial: mucous membranes and dermatophytic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are current effective antifungal targets?

A
Membranes (ergosterol)
Nucleic acids (limited)
Cell wall (1 drug class)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What drugs are used for systemic fungal infections?

A
Amphotericin B
Flucytosine
Fluconazole
Itraconazole
Voriconazole
Caspofungin
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What antifungal is an effective broad-spectrum agent for most serious systemic mycoses, especially those that are immediately life-threatening?

A

Amphotericin B

Gold standard for antifungal effectiveness by which other drugs are judged

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why is Amphotericin B only used for proven or highly suspected systemic infections?

A

Side effects

Total cumulative dose is important for reasons of permanent renal toxicity (90% of people will show nonpermanent nephrotoxicity)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the mechanism of action of amphotericin B?

A

Very lipophilic; binds ergosterol in fungal membranes producing rapid membrane instability/leakage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the side effects of Amphotericin B?

A

Fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, chills.

Hypotension, hypokalemia, tachypnea.

90% nonpermanent nephrotoxicity

Reversible hypochromic, normocytic anemia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What can Flucytosine (5-FC) be used to treat? How is it used?

A

To treat serious infections from candida and cryptococcus.

Used in conjunction (synergistic) with amphotericin B.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What drug gets converted by fungal cytosine deaminase to a new compound whose metabolites block nucleic acid synthesis?

A

Flucytosine (5-FC)

5-FC gets converted to 5-FU, and metabolites of 5FU then block nucleic acid synthesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are side effects of Flucytosine?

A

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, enterocolitis.

Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia: extreme caution in those with renal insufficiency or BM depression

Reversible elevated hepatic enzymes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What three triazoles are used to treat serious fungal infections?

A

Fluconazole
Voriconazole
Itraconazole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the mechanism of action of imidazoles and triazoles?

A

Inhibit 14-a-sterol demethylase, a fungal cytochrome P450 that converts lanosterol to ergosterol.

Net effect is inhibition of ergosterol synthesis while eventually causes membrane instability. Not a rapid onset because there’s no effect on existing ergosterol.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What types of fungal infections can fluconazole treat?

A

Cryptocossus,

Candidia (incl. CNS and urinary):

  • most C. albicans
  • some C. glabrata
  • NOT C. krusei
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What type of infections does itraconazole treat?

A

Blastomyces, histoplasma, candida (NOT CNS and urinary).

Candida spectrum: more albicans and glabrata.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What types of fungal infections does voriconazole treat?

A

Aspergillus, candida (NOT urinary) including glabrate and krusei.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Studies show ______ is superior to Amphotericin for invasive aspergillus?

A

Voriconazole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Out of fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole, which drug has CNS penetration and is active in the urine?

A

Fluconazole

19
Q

What are side effects common to fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole?

A

Nausea, vomiting, rash, diarrhea, and headache.

Mild hepatotoxicity - discontinue with onset of liver dysfunction.

Inhibits metabolism of other drugs b/c they are potent inhibitors of CYP3A and 2C

20
Q

What are contraindications for itraconazole?

A

Do not give with other drugs that are metabolized by CYP3A4.

Potential for serious cardiovascular events, including death.

21
Q

Which -azole antifungal has the lowest incidence of hepatotoxicity?

A

Fluconazole

22
Q

What are side effects associated with voriconazole?

A

Visual disturbances (30%)

Photosensitive component to rash.

23
Q

What antifungal drug inhibits fungal cell wall synthesis by non-competitively blocking synthesis of B(1,3)-D-glucan? Does this have cross-resistance?

A

Caspofungin

No cross-resistance with imidazole and triazoles

24
Q

What types of fungal infections can caspofungin treat?

A

Invasive aspergillus

Esophageal and systemic candida - broad species coverage includes glabrata and krusei

25
Q

What are side effects of caspofungin?

A

Fever, nausea/vomoting, flushing

Phlebitis at injection site

26
Q

What are the infection sites of superficial mycoses?

A

Oropharyngeal
Bladder
Vagina

27
Q

What drugs can be used to treat superficial mycoses?

A
Nystatin 
Fluconazole
Miconazole
Clotrimazole
Itraconazole
Natamycin
28
Q

What does fluconazole treat, and how is it given?

A

Candida infections:
Vaginal (single oral dose).
Urinary tract
Oropharynx

29
Q

What is the mechanism of action and use of clotrimazole? What are side effects?

A

Mechanism similar to fluconazle.

Used for candida infections: can be via oral troches or vaginal creams

Side effects of oral troches: abnormal liver function tests

30
Q

What type of candida infections does itraconazole treat? How is it given?

A

Oropharyngeal and esophageal candida

Given orally

31
Q

What drug has a similar mechanism of action to amphotericin B and should be effective against -azole resistant strains? What is it used to treat?

A

Nystatin

Topic for candida or oral for GI tract candida.

Can cause GI distress.

32
Q

Can amphotericin B be given in ways other than IV?

A

Yes, can be used topically for candida infections.

Not used for dermatophytes.

33
Q

What drug is used to treat ophthalmic fungal infections? What is it especially useful for? How does it work?

A

Natamycin

Esp. useful for fusarium, cephalosporium, and aspergillus.

Same mechanism of action as amphotericin B.

34
Q

What are side effects of natamycin?

A

Conjunctival chemosis (edema) and hyperemia (increased blood flow)

35
Q

What antifungal drugs can be used topically to treat dermatophytes?

A
Miconazole
Clotrimazole
Tolnaftate
Terbinafine
Ciclopirox
36
Q

What topical treatment is used to treat fungal nail infections?

A

Ciclopirox

FDA approved for topical use in mild-to-moderate fungal nail infections

37
Q

What drug can be used to treat dermatophyte infections and is taken orally?

A

Terbinafine - 12 week oral therapy for fungal nail infections

38
Q

What is the mechanism of action of terbinafine?

A

It blocks squalene epoxidase, which prevents ergosterol synthesis.

This causes squalene to build up and form lipid droplets that disrupt fungal cell membrane –> FUNGICIDAL

39
Q

What is the mechanism of action of azoles?

A

Azoles block 14a-demethylase (a CYP P450) which results in ergosterol deficiency that interferes with membrane function and cell growth.

They are FUNGISTATIC

40
Q

What are side effects of terbinafine?

A

Diarrhea, dyspepsia (indigestion), and abdominal pain.

Inhibits CYP2D6

41
Q

What oral antifungal interferes with microtubule function/mitotic spindle/mitosis? What is this drug used to treat?

A

Griseofulvin

For recalcitrant (stubborn) dermatophytic infections of skin, hair, and nails. Good for tinea capitis infection.

42
Q

What are side effects of griseofulvin? What are contraindications?

A

Contraindicated in those with porphyria (heme build up) and advanced liver disease.

Increased metabolism of other drugs (CYP inducer)

Use with caution in those with penicillin allergies (produced in penicillium)

43
Q

What is a second use of itraconazole other than for systemic fungal infections? What are side effects and when should it be stopped?

A

Orally for fungal toenail infections (dermatophytes)

Nausea, vomiting, rash, diarrhea, headache, edema. Inhibits metabolism of many drugs.

Discontinue is signs of liver dysfunction appear.

44
Q

What oral antifungals are given for dermatophytes?

A

Itraconazole
Griseofulvin
Terbinafine