Tioconazole. A review of its antimicrobial activity and therapeutic use in superficial mycoses

Tioconazole is a substituted imidazole antimicrobial agent structurally related to other drugs in this group. It has been shown to have a broad spectrum of activity in vitro against dermatophytes and yeasts, as well as against some chlamydia, trichomonads and Gram-positive bacteria. Both open and controlled clinical trials have clearly demonstrated the efficacy and safety of topical preparations of tioconazole for treating superficial dermatophyte or yeast infections of the skin and vaginal candidiasis. In comparative studies it was at least as effective as alternative imidazole antifungal drugs, and in a few trials significantly greater efficacy has been reported for tioconazole, compared with clotrimazole, miconazole, econazole and systemic ketoconazole. Preliminary studies in other clinical areas suggest tioconazole may be useful for treating onychomycosis (in a special nail formulation), napkin-rash due to Candida albicans, impetigo, and vaginal trichomoniasis, although comparative studies are needed in each of these settings to clearly assess its relative place in therapy. Thus, tioconazole is an effective and well tolerated treatment for vaginal candidiasis and superficial fungal infections of the skin.