Drugs for Fungal Infections and Influenza

Question 1

Amphotericin B

Answer 1

indicated for aspergillus

• interaction with digitalis -> hypokalemia
• risk of nephrotoxicity, cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, n/v chills

Question 2

Fluconazole

Answer 2

• do not give with other QT prolonging drugs
• risk of birth defects, hepatic damage, QT prolongation and torsades
• occupies CYP3A4 and prolongs effects of other drugs

Question 3

Itraconazole

Answer 3

• best absorbed with acidic food/drink
• indicated for vaginal + oral candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis… ALSO Aspergillus, dematiaceous molds
• risk of liver dz, heart failure

Question 4

Voriconazole

Answer 4

• risk of hepatic toxicity, arrhythmia and QT prolongation…
• IV administration dose depends on renal function, NOT oral

Question 5

Capsofungin

Answer 5

• indicated in systemic candida infections, and invasive aspergillosis
• risk of red man syndrome, potential risk of hepatocellular tumors

Question 6

Micafungin

Answer 6

• indicated in systemic candida infections, and prophylaxis before stem cell transplant
• risk of red man syndrome, potential risk of hepatocellular tumors

Question 7

Anidulafungin

Answer 7

• indicated in systemic candida infections, and invasive aspergillosis
• risk of red man syndrome, potential risk of hepatocellular tumors

Question 8

Flucytosine

Answer 8

-risk of renal dz, hepatic dz, fetal harm

Question 9

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)

Answer 9

• neuraminidase inhibitor: inhibits NA from cleaving sialic acid groups from glycoproteins and therefore prevents new viral particles from being released
• indicated for both influenza A and B
• risk of bacterial infection, and rendering influenza vaccine ineffective

Question 10

Zanamivir

Answer 10

• neuraminidase inhibitor: binds to the active site of the neuraminidase protein, and prevents virus from leaving host cell
• indicated for both influenza A and B

Question 11

Peramivir

Answer 11

• neuraminidase inhibitor: prevents virus from leaving host cell
• indicated for both influenza A and B
• risk of SJS, hallucination, delirium, renal tox

Question 12

Baloxavir

Answer 12

• polymerase acidic endonuclease inhibitor
• indicated for acute influenza
• risk of bacterial infection

Question 13

Amantadine

Answer 13

• antiviral drug which also acts as an anti-Parkinson’s agent
• prevents the release of infectious viral nucleic acid into the host cell by interfering with the function of the transmembrane domain of the viral M2 protein
• indicated for influenza A
• risk of suicide, seizure, renal dz