The current status of antimycotics in the treatment of local mycoses

The drugs used in the treatment of superficial mycoses include substances with an indirect affect on the organisms such as the keratolytics as well as antifungal compounds. The antifungals include specific inhibitory compounds such as the polyene or imidazole antibiotics and substances with a wider spectrum of antiseptic activity. High cure rates (80-90%) can be achieved by most specific antifungals although this can be affected by the host response and the location of the infection. The orally active antifungals used in superficial disease, ketoconazole and griseofulvin, can be used in conditions unresponsive or inaccessible to topical therapy, such as chronic superficial candidosis and tinea capitis. However, the treatment of onychomycosis, particularly affecting toe nails, is highly unsatisfactory. There is therefore an important place for new drugs and new methods of applying them in the treatment of superficial (local) mycoses.