Antifungals and Fungal Skin Infections Flashcards
Are fungi autrotrophic?
No. They are saprophyllic heterotrophs that need to feed off dead organic matter for energy
How are spores and conidia different? How are they similar?
spores are produced thorugh sexual reproduction
conidia are produeced through asexual reproduction
they are alike in that they will be survive well in the outside environment
Are fungi prokaryotes or eukaryotes?
eukaryotes
What are the 3 forms of fungi?
yeast (unicellular, spherical, reproduce by asexualyly budding blastoconidia and forming pseudohyphae)
molds (multicellular, form threaks called hyphae)
Dimorphic - can be either a mold or a yeasr
What do you call a mass of hyphae?
mycelium
What do you call hyphae on parasitic fungi?
haustoria
What two proteins does the cell wall of fungi contain?
chitin and glucan
What protein is unique to fungi in the plasma membrane?
ergosterol
What are the two polyenes we learned about?
amohptericin B and Nystatin
What do polyenes (amphotericin B) do?
they bind to ergosterol, creating holes in the membrane allowing leakage of electrolytes
Is amphotericin B fungicidal or fungostatic?
fungicidal
What is the spectrum of amphotericin B? What form(s) of fungi will it be effective against?
It has a broad spectrum and is used for invasive systemic fungal infections im immunocompromised patients - you want to kill the whole thing
It’s active against yeasts and molds
CAN be used for CNS infections
What is the main adverse effect of polyenes like amphotericin B and nystatin?
cause nephrotoxicity in majrotiy of patients
ALthough resistance of the polyenes is low, what is a potential route to resistance?
decreased ergosterol in the membrane - no binding target
What are the 4 azoles we learned?
Fluconazole
Itraconazole
Ketoconazole
Posaconazole
What is the mechanism of action for the azoles?
they bind the fungal p450 enzyme Erg11, which blocks the production of ergosterol and causes the accumulation of lanosterol, which is toxic
Are azoles fungicidal or static?
static
What is the spectrum for the azoles?
they are the most widely used agent
the actual spectrum varies by agent
Can azoles be used for CNS infections?
no - they are a substrate for efflux pumps in the brain
What are the toxicities that can develop from azole use?
drug drug-interactions (bc they target a p450)
hepatotoxicity is the big one
neurotoxicity
AVOID DURING PREGNANCY
How does resistance of azoles develop?
altered p450 Erg11
or
Ulregulation of efflux transporters
How does terbinafine (lamisil) work?
It inhibits squalene epoxidase, which leads to a toxic accumulation of squalene
this is a more severe block in the formation of ergosterol, so it’s fungicidal
What is the spectrum for tebinafine (lamisil)?
Dermatophytes
What are the toxicities for terbinafine?
topical only!!
DD interactions with CYP2D6 substrates
Resistance to terbinafine is rare, but what are some hypothetically causes?
decreased uptake, mutant binding site, and substrate for efflux transporters
Terbinafine is the main ingredient in what drug?
Lamisil
How does flucytosine work?
It’s a nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor
It’s an antimetabolite that is selectively taken up and converted to 5-fluorouracil in fingi
this blocks thymidylate synthase and interferes with DNA and RNA synthesis
Is Flucytosine fungistatic or cidal?
static
WHat ist he spectrum for flucytosine?
narrow: yeast only
especially candida albicans and crytococcus
How is flucotyosine usually given?
Can is reach the CNS?
orally
yes