Antifungals Flashcards
Five main antifungal drug classes/drugs:
1) Polyenes
2) Azoles
3) Pneumocandins (& echinocandins)
(4) Pyrimidines)
5) Drugs used to treat dermatophytosis
polyenes: an important drug in this category, and some characteristics
1) Polyenes
* E.g., amphotericin B
* Broad spectrum, fungicidal
* High systemic toxicity
azoles: an important drug in this category, and some characteristics
- E.g., itraconazole
- Broad spectrum, fungistatic
- Very low toxicity
pneumocandins: an important drug in this category, and some characteristics
- Newest AF drugs, low toxicity, replacing polyenes for systemic therapy
- E.g., caspofungin
important drug used to treat dermatophytosis
Terbinafine
difference between bacterial and fungal cell and consequence
Unlike bacteria, fungi are eukaryotic
>harder to attack without affecting host
main targets of antifungal drugs, generally
Plasma membrane
>Most systemic drugs (polyenes, azoles)
Cell wall
>(pneumocandins)
Protein synthesis, Nucleic acid synthesis
>(Flucytosine)
specific component of fungal plasma membrane that is the target of many antifungals
Plasma membrane contains ergosterol instead of cholesterol
> target of many antifungals
plyenes mechanism of action and toxicity
Polyenes bind ergosterol in fungal membrane
> inserted into membrane
> several molecules come together to form a pore
> pores cause fungal cell to lyse (fungicidal)
Unfortunately, it also binds cholesterol to some extent in mammalian cells somewhat > toxic to host
what is Amphotericin B?
A polyene macrolide antifungal
pharmacokinetics of Amphotericin B; absorption, distribution
Conventional amphotericin B is usually formulated with bile salts to improve solubility, however can cause adverse effects
Poor oral absorption; usually given IV
Distributes to extracellular fluid; poorly into CNS
pharmacokinetics of Amphotericin B; elimination
Most metabolized in liver
> bile; smaller amount excreted in urine
Long half-life: ~ 26 h in dogs; drug continues to be excreted for weeks after discontinuation of therapy
spectrum of Amphotericin B
Broad (greater than the azoles)
* Many serious systemic mycotic infections
clinical use of amphotericin B
Systemically, main use is in dogs & cats with life-threatening systemic mycoses, esp. in immunocompromised patients due to the fungicidal nature of the drug
Ampho B is often administered once followed by longer follow-up therapy with azole
Systemic use is sporadic in equine medicine, rare/absent in food animals
route of administration of amphotericin in most species
Topical administration in most species