Antifungals

Question 1

Why are fungal infections hard to treat?

Answer 1

Tough to kill fungi since the host and the fungi are both eukaryotes its difficult to kill a fungi without toxicity to the host

Question 2

Word Root: -Zoles means?

Answer 2

Drugs ending w/ “zoles” are going to be antifungals

Question 3

What are the two type of fungal infections?

Answer 3

1. Localized skin fungi
2. Systemic fungal infections

Question 4

Antifungals: Localized Skin Fungi

Answer 4

• Use Imidazoles drugs
Topical Forms:
• Miconazole: Micatin®: athlete’s foot & Monistat® - yeast
• Ketoconazole:Fungal & yeast
• Tolnaftate (Tinactin®): skin infections, including athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringworm.
• Clotrimazole: Gyne-Lotrimin® : Yeast

Oral Form:
• Griseofulvin: chronic skin infection

Question 5

Antifungals: Systemic fungal infections

Answer 5

Amphotericin B – from Streptomyces
• Very toxic – disrupts RNA synthesis
• Causes rashes, anemia, liver damage
• Fluconazole – less toxic, used against yeast, fungal meningitis

Question 6

Nystatin

Answer 6

• Antifungal
• topical, cream, suppository, used for yeast infection