Chapter 28

Antifungal Agents

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Define fungal infections and the treatment options

  • Categorize antifungals

  • Describe the chemistry and utility of antifungal antibiotics

  • Describe the mode of action and structure of azole antifungals

  • Discuss the utility of pyrimidine antifungals

  • Discuss the other structural classes of antifungals

  • List some new drugs in the antifungal category

28.1 INTRODUCTION

Most fungal infections (mycoses) involve superficial invasion of the skin or mucous membrane of body orifices. These diseases, which can usually be controlled by local application of antifungal agents, are divided into two etiologic groups:

  1. The dermatophytes, which are contagious superficial epidermal infections caused by various

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