McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

11

Antifungal agents

Learning objectives Upon completion of this chapter, you should be able to: 1. Describe the characteristics of a fungus and a fungal infection.

2. Discuss the therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, proper administration, most common adverse reactions and important drug–drug interactions associated with systemic and topical antifungal agents. 3. Compare and contrast the prototype drugs for systemic and topical antifungals with the other drugs in each class. 4. Discuss the impact of using antifungal agents across the lifespan. 5. Outline the care considerations for people receiving a systemic or topical antifungal.

Test your current knowledge of antifungal agents with a PrepU Practice Quiz!

Glossary of key terms azoles: a group of drugs used to treat fungal infections Candida : fungus that is normally found on mucous membranes; can cause yeast infections or thrush of the GI tract and vagina in immunosuppressed individuals ergosterol: steroid-type protein found in the cell membrane of fungi; similar in configuration to adrenal hormones and testosterone fungus: a cellular organism with a hard cell wall that contains chitin and many polysaccharides, as well as a cell membrane that contains ergosterols mycosis: disease caused by a fungus tinea: fungus called ringworm that causes such infections as athlete’s foot, jock itch and others

SYSTEMIC ANTIFUNGALS Azole antifungals

TOPICAL ANTIFUNGALS Azole topical antifungals butoconazole clotrimazole econazole ketoconazole

Echinocandin antifungals anidulafungin caspofungin

Other topical antifungals ciclopirox tolnaftate undecenoic acid

fluconazole itraconazole ketoconazole posaconazole terbinafine voriconazole

Other antifungals amphotericin B

flucytosine griseofulvin nystatin

miconazole terbinafine