title: Traditional and emerging antifungal therapies.
abstract: Invasive mycoses continue to be a major problem in the growing population of immunosuppressed patients. More antifungal agents are now available than ever. The options are many, with more efficacies and less toxicity than in the past. These agents differ in terms of spectrum of activity, pharmacologic properties, and indications. In this article we discuss the three major classes of antifungal agents: the polyens, the triazoles, and the echinocandins. The emphasis is placed on their clinical use, side effects, drug interactions, and other practical issues.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Tamra M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dotson
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Sarosi
authors.forename: Chadi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hage
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077612:Anidulafungin; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077336:Caspofungin; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055666:Lipopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077551:Micafungin; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065819:Voriconazole
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D017964:Itraconazole; C101425:posaconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole; D000077612:Anidulafungin; D000077336:Caspofungin; D065819:Voriconazole; D000077551:Micafungin