Antifungals and antiparasitics Flashcards
Systemic drugs for subcutaneous and systemic mycoses
- Amphotericin B
- Flucytosine
- Azoles
- Echinocandins
Amphotericin B
- Polyeneantibiotic. Antifungal agent with the broadest spectrum of action.
- Amphotericin B binds to ergosterol, forming pores in the cell membrane.
- The pores allow leakage of intracellular ions and macromolecules, leading to cell death.
- Broad spectrum and fungicidal action: useful for nearly all life-threatening fungal infections.
- Often used as initial induction regimen to rapidly reduce fungal burden.
- Then patients continue therapy with an azole.
- Given by slow IV infusion.
- Amphotericin B is the preferred treatment for deep fungal infections during pregnancy.
Amphotericin B PK and SE
PK
• Amphotericin B is highly insoluble: formulated as deoxycholate colloidal suspension.
• Poorly absorbed from the GI tract.
• Must be given IV.
• Penetration into the CSF is extremely low.
• Intrathecal therapy may be necessary for meningeal disease.
SE
INFUSION-RELATED TOXICITY
• Nearly universal. Fever and chills, muscle spasms, vomiting, headache and hypotension.
• Can be attenuated by slowing infusion rate or decreasing daily dose.
• Pre-medication with antihistamines, glucocorticoids, antipyretics or meperidine can be helpful.
SLOWER TOXICITY
• Amphotericin B also binds to cholesterol and forms pores in mammalian cell membranes, leading to renal toxicity.
• Renal impairment occurs in nearly all patients.
• Anemia: due to reduced erythropoietin production.
• Intrathecal administration can cause seizures and serious neurological damage.
• Lipid formulations of amphotericin B have been developed to reduce nephrotoxicity.
• Amphotericin B is packaged in lipid carriers to reduce exposure to the nephron.
• Amphotec®, Abelcet®, and AmBisome® are the three FDA-approved lipid formulations.
• Nephrotoxicity is less common and less severe with the lipid formulations.
Flucytosine
- Synthetic pyrimidine antimetabolite. Fungistatic. Narrow spectrum.
- Indicated only for serious infections caused by susceptible strains of Candida and/or Cryptococcus.
- Should be used in combination with amphotericin B for the treatment of systemic candidiasis and cryptococcosis in order to avoid resistance.
- Taken by fungal cells via the enzyme cytosine permease.
- Converted intracellularly first to 5-fluorouracil(5- FU) and then to 5-fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate (5-FdUMP) which inhibits thymidylate synthetase, thus blocking synthesis of dTMP.
- Fluorouridine triphosphate (5-FUTP) is also formed, which inhibits protein synthesis.
- Mammalian cells are unable to convert the parent drug to its active metabolites.
- Combination of flucytosine and amphotericin B is synergistic.
SE
• Result from metabolism (possibly by intestinal flora) to 5-fluorouracil.
• Bone marrow toxicity is the most common.
Azoles
- Relatively nontoxic oral drugs.
- Important role in systemic therapy.
- Classified as imidazoles or triazoles.
IMIDAZOLES
• Ketoconazole
• Miconazole
• Clotrimazole
TRIAZOLES • Itraconazole • Fluconazole • Voriconazole • Posaconazole
- The fungal cytochromeP450enzyme 14-a-sterol demethylase catalyzes the conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol.
- Azoles inhibit the enzyme, thus reducing ergosterol synthesis.
- This disrupts membrane function and increases permeability.
- Specificity of azole drugs results from their greater affinity for fungal than for human P450 enzymes.
- Imidazoles are less specific than triazoles.
SE
• Relatively nontoxic.
• Most common adverse reaction: minor GI upset.
Ketoconazole
- Due to its narrow spectrum and adverse effects ketoconazole is rarely used for systemic mycoses.
- Still used for superficial mycoses.
- Inhibits mammalian cytochrome P450 enzymes.
- Can decrease plasma testosterone levels and cause gynecomastia, decreased libido and loss of potency in men and menstrual irregularities in women.
- High doses may inhibit adrenal steroid synthesis and decrease plasma cortisol concentrations.
- Strong inhibitor of CYP3A4.It can potentiate the toxicities of several drugs such as warfarin and cyclosporine.
- Best absorbed at low gastric pH: antacids, H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors interfere with absorption of ketoconazole.
- Poor penetration in the CSF.
Fluconazole
- DOC in esophageal, oropharyngeal, vaginal or urinary candidiasis.
- DOC in invasive Candida infections. Amphotericin B is preferred for severe candidemia when infection is caused by strains that may be fluconazole-resistant and for patients who recently received fluconazole or are immunocompromised.
- DOC for most infections due to Coccidioides.
- DOC for consolidation and maintenance therapy of cryptococcal meningitis after induction therapy with amphotericin B.
- Alternative to amphotericin B for patients with criptococcal meningitis whose disease is not severe.
- DOC for initial and secondary prophylaxis against cryptoccocal meningitis.
- Ineffective against Aspergillus or other filamentous fungi.
- Good CSF penetration.
- High oral bioavailability.
- Available in oral and IV formulations.
- Moderate inhibitor of CYP3A4.
- Strong inhibitor of CYP2C9: can increase plasma levels of phenytoin, zidovudine and warfarin.
Itraconazole
- Preferred azole for mycoses due to the dimorphic fungi Blastomyces, Sporothrix and Histoplasma.
- Effective against Aspergillus, but has been replaced by voriconazole for this indication.
- Used for dermatophytoses and onychomycosis.
- Metabolized primarily by CYP3A4.
- Strong inhibitor of CYP3A4. May cause potentially fatal arrhythmias when given concurrently with cisapride or quinidine.
- Poor bioavailability.
- Penetrates poorly in CSF.
- Absorption reduced by antacids, H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors.
Voriconazole
- Spectrum similar to itraconazole.
- DOC for invasive aspergillosis.
- Transient visual disturbances occur in up to 30% of patients.
- Voriconazole is metabolized by and inhibits CYP2C19, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4.
- The significant number of drug interactions due to its metabolism through the various hepatic enzymes may limit its use.
Posaconazole
- Spectrum similar to itraconazole,but it has activity against Zygomycetes such as Mucor.
- Inhibits CYP3A4.
Echinocandins: Caspofungin
- Large cyclic peptides linked to a long-chain fatty acid.
- Active against candida and aspergillus but not Cryptococcus neoformans.
- Only available IV.
- Inhibit synthesis of B(1-3)-D-glucans in the fungal cell wall.
- This results in disruption of the fungal cell wall and cell death.
Systemic drugs for superficial mycoses
- Griseofulvin
- Terbinafine
- Ketoconazole
- Fluconazole
- Itraconazole
Griseofulvin
• Only use: treatment of dermatophytosis.
• Severe dermatophytoses of the skin,hair,and nails.
• Largely replaced by newer antifungal drugs like itraconazole and terbinafine.
• Induces P450 enzymes: increases metabolism of a number of drugs, including warfarin.
• Absorption improved when given with fatty
foods.
• Disrupts mitotic spindle and inhibits mitosis
Terbinafine
- Allylamine.
- Available in oral formulation.
- Like griseofulvin it accumulates in keratin but is much more effective in onychomycosis.
- Inhibition of squalene epoxidase prevents synthesis of ergosterol.
- It also causes accumulation of toxic levels of squalene in the fungal cell.
SE
• GI upsets, rash, headache, taste disturbances.
• Terbinafine doesn’t affect the P450 system -> no drug interactions.
Topical drugs for superficial mycoses
- Nystatin
- Amphotericin B - topical form for candidiasis
- Clotrimazole - common
- Miconazole - common
- Ketoconazole - for tinea cruris and tinea corporis
- Terbinafine
