Antifungal drugs in pregnancy: a review

The use of any medication in pregnant women requires careful consideration of benefit to the mother versus risk posed to the fetus. Fungal infections are not uncommon in pregnant women; in fact, the incidence of certain infections such as Candida vaginitis is increased in this patient population. A variety of antimycotic agents are currently available to treat systemic or mucocutaneous fungal infections. Many of these agents are capable of penetrating the placental barrier and entering fetal cord blood, therefore adverse effects of these agents on the fetus are a valid concern. The use of topical azoles for the treatment of superficial fungal infections is safe and efficacious. However, there are some data suggesting a dose-related increase in the risk of teratogenicity associated with the use of systemic azoles. Amphotericin B remains the drug of choice for the treatment of systemic fungal infections in pregnancy. There are serious risks of fetal malformations associated with the use of griseofulvin, ketoconazole, voriconazole, flucytosine and potassium iodide. These drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy. There are insufficient data regarding the use of caspofungin in pregnancy. This article will review available data regarding the safety of antifungal drug use in pregnant women.