What are the classification of antifungal drugs?

Antifungals can be grouped into three classes based on their site of action: azoles, which inhibit the synthesis of ergosterol (the main fungal sterol); polyenes, which interact with fungal membrane sterols physicochemically; and 5-fluorocytosine, which inhibits macromolecular synthesis.

What classification of organisms does azoles treat?

Azole drugs are broad-spectrum drugs and treat fungal infections of the skin or mouth. An example of an azole drug is Clotrimazole, commonly used to treat athlete’s foot, ringworm, vaginal yeast infections, and oral thrush. Figure: Ringworm: Ringworm on a human leg.

What are examples of azoles?

Triazole agents, which are now the most commonly used azoles, include fluconazole, itraconazole, econazole, terconazole, butoconazole, and tioconazole. Newer triazoles (ie, voriconazole, posaconazole, ravuconazole) are active against fluconazole-resistant strains of Candida.

How many classes of antifungals are there?

The four main classes of antifungal drugs are the polyenes, azoles, allylamines and echinocandins.

What are the 4 classifications of fungal infections?

When classified according to the site of infection, fungal infections are designated as superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous, and deep (Fig. 75-1).

What is the classification of fluconazole?

Fluconazole is in a class of antifungals called triazoles. It works by slowing the growth of fungi that cause infection.

What are 3 common fungal infections?

Most common fungal diseases

Common infections of the fingernails or toenails. Caused by the yeast Candida, also called a “vaginal yeast infection.” A common fungal skin infection that often looks like a circular rash. Caused by the yeast Candida, also called “thrush.

What is the class of terbinafine?

Terbinafine is in a class of medications called antifungals.

What are the three fungal groups?

The three important groups of fungi are molds, yeasts, and mushrooms. They come in three basic shapes: unicellular yeasts, filamentous hyphae (molds), and, among the most basal groups, flagellated, swimming, unicellular organisms that encyst to form sporangia.

What are azoles used to treat?

Azole antifungal agents have added greatly to the therapeutic options for treatment of systemic fungal infections. The azoles that are available for systemic use can be classified into two groups: the triazoles (fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole) and the imidazoles (ketoconazole).

What fungi do azoles affect?

Undoubtedly, azoles have divergent effects depending on the fungal species. They exert generally a fungistatic activity against yeasts, e.g., Candida spp., while being fungicidal for certain medically important molds, e.g., Aspergillus spp3,12.

Do azoles treat bacteria?

Interestingly azole antimycotics have been shown to also exert antibacterial effects 5 and new formulations for skin diseases have been suggested. 6 Especially the broad-spectrum imidazole antifungal miconazole was found to be effective against skin infections caused by gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo.

Why are azoles the preferred treatment of yeast species?

Azole antifungals such as fluconazole are often preferred treatment for many Candida infections as they are inexpensive, exhibit limited toxicity, and are available for oral administration.

What is the mechanism of action of azole?

Mechanism of Action of Azoles

Azoles exert their action by inhibiting the C14α demethylation of lanosterol in fungi, which interferes with the synthesis of ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane.

What is a azole?

Azoles are nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen-containing compounds with a five-membered ring system that comprises thiadiazole, oxadiazole, triazole, imidazole, isoxazole, pyrazole, and other rings.