Related Experiment Videos

New therapeutic options for onychomycosis

Aditya K Gupta1, Fiona C Simpson

  • 1Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. agupta@execulink.com

Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|April 27, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

New treatments for onychomycosis (fungal nail infections) are emerging, including novel topical drugs and device-based therapies. While systemic azoles show promise, terbinafine remains the gold standard for fungal nail infections.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Mycology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Onychomycosis affects 10-30% of the global population.
  • Current treatments have limited efficacy, with high relapse and reinfection rates (20-25%).
  • There is a need for improved therapeutic options for fungal nail infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review emerging pharmacotherapeutics for onychomycosis.
  • To discuss novel device-based treatment options for fungal nail infections.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of new and existing onychomycosis treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Review of emerging pharmacotherapies including terbinafine reformulations, new azoles, benzoxaboroles, and polymer barriers.
  • Discussion of device-based options like photodynamic therapy, iontophoresis, and laser systems.
  • Analysis of current treatment efficacy and future directions for onychomycosis management.

Main Results:

  • Device-based therapies for onychomycosis are rapidly advancing.
  • Systemic azoles demonstrate efficacy comparable to systemic terbinafine.
  • New topical agents include tavaborole, efinaconazole, and luliconazole.

Conclusions:

  • Terbinafine remains the gold standard for onychomycosis treatment.
  • Emerging topical drugs and device-based therapies show potential but require further study.
  • Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the long-term efficacy of device-based treatments.

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Hand hygiene01:23

Hand hygiene

Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Anthelminthic Agents01:15

Anthelminthic Agents

Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Overview and Classification01:16

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Overview and Classification

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is a clinical practice that measures specific drug levels in a patient's blood at designated intervals to ensure the drug concentration stays within a therapeutic range. This monitoring is crucial for optimizing individual dosage regimens, enhancing therapeutic efficacy, and minimizing drug-related toxicity. TDM is vital for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, significant variability in pharmacokinetics, and a clear correlation between plasma levels and...