Antifungals/Antihistamines Flashcards
What are major differences between fungi and bacteria?
- cell membrane has ergosterol in fungi
2. cell wall contains beta-glucan in fungi
Superficial fungal infection
Cutaneous surfaces (common), subcutaneous, mucous membrane surfaces
Systemic fungal infection
Internal organs (cause pneumonia and can disseminate), difficult to treat, often life-threatening
What are fungal infections harder to treat than bacterial?
Fungal organisms grow slowly, infections often occur in poorly perfused tissues, and usually requires prolonged treatment
Systemic drugs for systemic infections
Azoles
Amphotericin B
Oral systemic drugs for mucocutaneous infections
Terbinafine
Griseofulvin
Topical drugs
Topical azoles
Topical amphotericin B
Nystatin
Topical terbinafine
Griseofulvin mechanism
Deposits in newly forming skin where it binds to keratin, protecting skin from new infection (prevents microtubule function)
Griseofulvin clinical use
Tinea capitis and glabrous (nonhairy) skin (e.g. nail)
Griseofulvin side effects
- Incidence of serious reactions is low
- GI upset (diarrhea, epigastric distress, bleeding, nausea, vomiting)
- Hepatotoxicity (rare)
- Photosensitivity
- Drug-drug interactions
Drug-drug interaction of griseofulvin
-Induces hepatic CYP450 enzymes, thereby increasing the rate of metabolism of other drugs (substrates of CYPs) such as warfarin, anti-epileptics (e.g., phenytoin), theophylline, oral contraceptives (OCPs), etc.
Terbinafine mechanism
- inhibits enzyme squalene epoxidase (fungal enzyme), further inhibiting ergosterol synthesis
- membrane damage and leaky
- accumulation of squalene which is toxic to fungal cells
Terbinafine clinical use
- Fungicidal
- oral or topical
- DOC for tinea unguium (nail) and capitis
- oral
- high cure rate
- prolonged therapy
- more effective than griseofulvin or azoles
Terbinafine side effects
- Well tolerated with rare side effects
- Low incidence of GI distress, headache, rash, hepatotoxicity, neutropenia, hypersensitivity
- Pregnancy Category B (no evidence of drug risks in humans) - recommended therapy for onychomycosis be postponed until after pregnancy
- no significant drug-drug interactions
Systemic azoles
Ketoconazole (older), fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole
Topical azoles
Clotrimazole, miconazole, ketoconazole
Azoles MOA
- Azoles inhibit the synthesis of erogsterol from lanosterol via inhibition of 14-a-demethylase, a CYP450 enzyme (CYP51A1)
- Decreasing ergosterol leads to membrane damage and leaky, also leads to accumulation of squalene
- Some azoles also inhibit other human CYP450 enzymes thus causing side effects
Azoles clinical use and general side effects
Clinical use:
-Used in both superficial and systemic infections. Broad spectrum of action including Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, endemic mycoses (blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis), dermatophytes, even Aspergillus infections.
Side effects:
-Relatively nontoxic. Can cause minor GI upset, abnormalities in liver enzymes, hepatitis
-Prone to drug-drug interactions because they inhibit human CYP450 enzymes
Ketoconazole clinical use
- Dermatophytosis, mucocutaneous candidiasis, tinea versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis (topical use)
- Not for systemic use (due to its narrow therapeutic index and side effects)
- Has been largely replaced by fluconazole and itraconazole for antifungal treatment, except using in Cushing’s syndrome (off-label use)
Off-label use of ketoconazole
- “Off-label use” means use the drug for a condition other than that for which it has been officially approved.
- Ketoconazole inhibits adrenal steroidogenesis (mechanism discussed in next slide), thus is used in
- Cushing’s syndrome (decrease glucocorticoid production)
- Prostate cancer (decrease androgen production)
Ketoconazole side effects
- Potent CYP450 inhibition
- Inhibits adrenal steroidogenesis causing adrenal insufficiency (related symptoms: gynecomastia, impotence, decreased libido, abnormal menstruation)
- Hepatotoxicity
How does ketoconazole inhibit adrenal steroidogenesis? (MOA)
- Inhibits CYP450 enzymes critical in adrenal steroid synthesis
- Binds to steroid receptors as an antagonist
Compared to ketoconazole, other azoles…
- Have same mechanism
- Used more frequently with better activity, less toxicity
- Less effect on CYP450