title: Current concepts in antifungal pharmacology.
abstract: The introduction of new antifungal agents (eg, echinocandins, second-generation triazoles) in the past decade has transformed the management of invasive mycoses to the point that drug toxicity is no longer the major limiting factor in treatment. Yet, many of these newer antifungal agents have important limitations in their spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, and unique predisposition for pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions and unusual toxicities associated with long-term use. This article reviews key pharmacological aspects of systemic antifungal agents as well as evolving strategies, such as pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic optimization and therapeutic drug monitoring, to improve the safety and efficacy of systemic antifungal therapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Houston College of Pharmacy and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. rlewis@uh.edu
authors.forename: Russell E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D026141:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Fungal; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents