title: Comprehensive management of patients with superficial fungal infections: the role of sertaconazole nitrate.
abstract: The incidence of mycotic infections is on the rise in the United States. The failure of patients and clinicians to recognize a fungal infection early may lead to extensive, severe, and difficult-to-treat disease. Treatment decisions must include an awareness of the etiologic organism involved, the potential for long-term recurrence, symptoms such as inflammation and itching, and the importance of patient adherence to treatment. Sertaconazole nitrate, a broad-spectrum imidazole agent with antifungal, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, and antipruritic properties, is the topical antifungal agent most recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. A review of its mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic profile, fungistatic and fungicidal activities, and clinical properties examines a substantial body of research findings that establish its efficacy, safety, and tolerability. Its use in the treatment of tinea pedis and other superficial mycotic infections is reviewed here.
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, USA.
authors.forename: James Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Del Rosso
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D013876:Thiophenes; C061131:sertaconazole