Drugs For Cutaneous Fungal Infections

DRUGS FOR CUTANEOUS FUNGAL INFECTIONS

Like bacterial infections of skin, cutaneous fungal in-fections are treated with either topical or systemic agents.

Systemic Agents

Griseofulvin

Griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin V) has been used safely and effectively for decades for dermatophyte in-fections of scalp and nails and for more widespread skin eruptions. However, infections in certain sites (e.g.. toe-nails) respond poorly. The drug is generally well toler-ated, even in the long-term courses necessary for nail disease.

Ketoconazole

Ketoconazole (Nizoral) is approved for treating der-matophyte infections unresponsive to griseofulvin and for patients unable to tolerate that drug. A single oral dose is also effective for the treatment of pityriasis ver-sicolor. Other effective drugs that are less hepatotoxic may be preferred, however.

Fluconazole

Fluconazole (Diflucan) may be better absorbed and is possibly less hepatotoxic than ketoconazole, but it is considerably more expensive, an important considera-tion given the required length of therapy for most cuta-neous fungal diseases.

Itraconazole

Itraconazole (Sporanox), a triazole, is highly lipophilic and concentrates in skin. It is approved for both cuta-neous deep fungal infections and dermatophyte nail dis-ease, for which shorter courses of therapy are probably effective. Pulse therapy, whereby the drug is adminis-tered for 1 week and then the patient is off treatment for 3 weeks between pulses, may reduce toxicity without compromising antifungal efficacy.

Terbinafine

Terbinafine (Lamisil), an antifungal drug, is highly lipophilic and concentrates in stratum corneum and nail plate. It is very effective for many dermatophyte infec-tions, especially those of the nails, with which it may permit shorter courses of therapy than other drugs. Meta-analysis suggests that long-term efficacy of terbinafine is superior to that of the other antifungal drugs used in treating onychomycosis.

Potassium Iodide

Potassium iodide is used to treat the cutaneous lym-phatic form of sporotrichosis, although newer agents are also effective in this disorder and may be better to erated. The drug is also used for erythema nodosum and nodular vasculitis.

Topical Agents

Many effective topical agents are available both with and without a prescription for treating cutaneous der-matophyte infections and seborrheic dermatitis (Table 41.3); the azole drugs are also active against superficial candidal infections.