title: Topical antifungal-corticosteroid combination therapy for the treatment of superficial mycoses: conclusions of an expert panel meeting.
abstract: Superficial fungal infections affect 20-25% of people worldwide and can cause considerable morbidity, particularly if an inflammatory component is present. As superficial fungal infections can be diverse, the treatment should be tailored to the individual needs of the patient and several factors should be taken into account when deciding on the most appropriate treatment option. These include the type, location and surface area of the infection, patient age, degree of inflammation and underlying comorbidities. Although several meta-analyses have shown that there are no significant differences between the numerous available topical antifungal agents with regard to mycological cure, agents differ in their specific intrinsic properties, which can affect their clinical use. The addition of a corticosteroid to an antifungal agent at the initiation of treatment can attenuate the inflammatory symptoms of the infection and is thought to increase patient compliance, reduce the risk of bacterial superinfection and enhance the efficacy of the antifungal agent. However, incorrect use of antifungal-corticosteroid therapy may be associated with treatment failure and adverse effects. This review summarises available treatment options for superficial fungal infections and provides general treatment recommendations based on the consensus outcomes of an Expert Panel meeting on the topical treatment of superficial mycoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.affiliation: Hautarztpraxis Oranienburg, Oranienburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Biomedicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papini
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramon M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Foundation, Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veraldi
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D010349:Patient Compliance
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole
keywords: Superficial fungal infection; antifungal; combination therapy; corticosteroid