Skip to main content

Addressing current medical needs in invasive fungal infection prevention and treatment with new antifungal agents, strategies and formulations.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pitman, SK; Drew, RH; Perfect, JR
Published in: Expert Opin Emerg Drugs
September 2011

Introduction: Morbidity and mortality associated with invasive fungal infections (IFIs) remains unacceptably high. Such diseases represent a substantial burden to the healthcare system. New options are needed to address antifungal resistance in existing and emerging pathogens and improve treatment outcomes while minimizing drug-related toxicities and interactions. Awareness of new and potential future options is of great value for those healthcare professionals who care for patients with IFIs. Areas covered: A search of PubMed, infectious diseases conference abstracts and reference lists from relevant publications was conducted and relevant information abstracted. This review describes the limitations of existing systemic antifungal therapies (e.g., resistance, drug-drug interactions, drug-related toxicities) and summarizes data regarding several emerging antifungal compounds including (but not limited to) new triazoles (e.g. isavuconazole, ravuconazole), echinocandins (e.g., aminocandin) and nikkomycin Z. Agents in clinical trials such as (but not limited to) new triazoles (e.g., isavuconazole, ravuconazole), echinocandins (e.g., aminocandin) and nikkomycin are included. New formulations of existing drugs including reformulations of miconazole, posaconazole and amphotericin B are also reviewed. Finally, new or novel administration strategies for existing drugs such as combination antifungal therapy, antifungal dose escalation, adjunctive use of iron chelators and preemptive therapy are discussed. Expert opinion: All present antifungal agents have some deficiencies in antifungal spectra, toxicity, pharmacokinetics and/or drug-drug interactions, making them less than ideal for some fungal infections. Therefore, there remains an urgent need to find safe, effective, rapidly fungicidal, broad-spectrum antifungal agents with excellent pharmacodynamics to effectively eliminate the fungus from the body with short antifungal courses.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Expert Opin Emerg Drugs

DOI

EISSN

1744-7623

Publication Date

September 2011

Volume

16

Issue

3

Start / End Page

559 / 586

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
  • 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Pitman, S. K., Drew, R. H., & Perfect, J. R. (2011). Addressing current medical needs in invasive fungal infection prevention and treatment with new antifungal agents, strategies and formulations. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs, 16(3), 559–586. https://doi.org/10.1517/14728214.2011.607811
Pitman, Stuart K., Richard H. Drew, and John R. Perfect. “Addressing current medical needs in invasive fungal infection prevention and treatment with new antifungal agents, strategies and formulations.Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 16, no. 3 (September 2011): 559–86. https://doi.org/10.1517/14728214.2011.607811.
Pitman, Stuart K., et al. “Addressing current medical needs in invasive fungal infection prevention and treatment with new antifungal agents, strategies and formulations.Expert Opin Emerg Drugs, vol. 16, no. 3, Sept. 2011, pp. 559–86. Pubmed, doi:10.1517/14728214.2011.607811.

Published In

Expert Opin Emerg Drugs

DOI

EISSN

1744-7623

Publication Date

September 2011

Volume

16

Issue

3

Start / End Page

559 / 586

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
  • 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences