Drugs for fungal infections

The type of fungal infection and the immunologic status of the patient determine whether drug therapy should be used. Amphotericin B is the single most important antifungal agent for the treatment of systemic mycoses. Flucytosine is given adjunctively with amphotericin B. Miconazole, a new parenteral agent, may be useful in treating candidiasis, cryptococcosis, paracoccidioidomycosis and coccidioidomycosis. Potassium iodide is used to treat lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis, bronchopulmonary geotrichosis and chromoblastomycosis. Nystatin, tolnaftate, clotrimazole and haloprogin are used for mucocutaneous infections. Griseofulvin is limited to the treatment of skin and nail infections caused by dermatophytes.