title: Systemic antifungal therapy.
abstract: Systemic antifungal therapy for superficial mycoses has advanced greatly since the introduction of griseofulvin in 1958. The discovery of the azole antifungal compounds, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole, allowed for a broader spectrum of treatment and a shorter treatment duration. Terbinafine, through a unique mechanism of action, has a fungicidal power not seen previously in the other antifungals. It is important to use our knowledge of the pharmacology in combination with clinical experience and cost of therapy in order to select the proper drug. The search to identify new oral antifungal agents should continue, since none of the five currently used drugs fulfill the criteria of the "ideal" antifungal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, New York, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moossavi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Scher
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents