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Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds
08:54

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds

Published on: February 14, 2018

[Systemic antifungals. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics]

Mercedes Catalán1, Juan Carlos Montejo

  • 1Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Unidad Polivalente, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avenida de Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain. mmcges@yahoo.es

Revista Iberoamericana De Micologia
|February 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

New antifungal drugs offer improved treatment options for invasive fungal infections in critically ill patients. These agents provide diverse pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles for better patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are significant contributors to morbidity and mortality in critically ill, non-neutropenic patients.
  • Historically, treatment options for IFIs were limited to amphotericin B and flucytosine.
  • The therapeutic landscape for IFIs has expanded significantly in recent decades.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the expanded armamentarium of antifungal agents available for treating invasive fungal infections.
  • To highlight the introduction of newer antifungal drugs and their characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of antifungal agents licensed in the past two decades.
  • Analysis of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of available antifungal drugs.

Main Results:

  • Several new antifungal agents have been licensed, including itraconazole, fluconazole, lipid formulations of amphotericin B, voriconazole, and caspofungin.
  • These newer agents exhibit distinct pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties compared to older drugs.

Conclusions:

  • The availability of novel antifungal agents has broadened treatment options for IFIs.
  • Understanding the differing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles is crucial for optimizing therapy in critically ill patients.

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