Week 13 Flashcards
Fungi have a cell wall composed of ___ and a cell membrane composed of ___
Chitin
Ergosterol (acts like cholesterol in human membranes, note that bacterial membranes do not have sterols)
True or false… antibacterial agents can also be used to target some fungal infections
False
____ is the leading cause of death in immunocompromised patients, patients with asthma, patients with cystic fibrosis, mainly due to hypersensitivity reactions to antigens to _____
Pulmonary aspergillosis
Aspergillus fumigatus
What are four different targets of antifungals?
Components of fungal cell membrane
Cell wall synthesis
Nucleic acid synthesis
Microtuble function
What three types of antifungal drugs interact with or inhibit ergosterol synthesis?
Amphotericin B
Azoles
Echinocandins
What two drugs bind to ergosterol in fungal membranes to disrupt membrane function and permeability? Describe their mechanism in more detail.
Amphotericin B
Nystatin
Bind to plasma membrane ergosterol and damages the membrane by forming pores which cause leakage of potassium ions.
What two drugs inhibit 14-alpha-sterol dymethylase, to prevent ergosterol synthesis, and lead to the accumulation of 14-alpha-methylsterols?
Itraconazole
Fluconazole
What two drugs inhibit squalene epoxidase to prevent ergosterol synthesis?
Naftifine
Terbinafine
What drug inhibits fungal cell wall synthesis by inhibitin glucan synthesis?
Echinocandins (caspofungin)
Is amphotericin B broad spectrum or narrow spectrum? What are its clinical uses?
Broad
However, due to its extensive side effects, it is only reserved for severe infections.
First line therapy for invasive, life threatening, systemic and localized candidemia
Effective for aspergillus infections
True or false… amphotericin is absorbed well orally
False. It is only administered parenteral (in hospital setting)
What are the adverse effects of amphotericin b?
Highly toxic chronic reactions.
Immediate reactions include fever, chills, muscle spasms, etc. but can be avoided by slow infusion, decrease daily dose, premedication
Slower reactions are most detrimental for renal toxicity and may also cause neurotoxicity, as well as other side effects
Nystatin’s mechanism is similar to amphotericin b. How is it administered? What are its clinical uses? What are some adverse effects?
Topical administration only
Treatment for oral thrush (candida albicans) and vaginal candidiasis
Adverse effects: higher systemic toxicity than amphotericin B (why its only administered topically). Disulfuram-like reactions
What is the spectrum of azoles?
Antibacterial
Antiprotozoal
Antihelminthic
Antifungal
Describe the classification system of azoles.
Based on the number of nitrogen atoms attached to the ring
Imidazoles (2)
Triazoles (3)
What is the mechanism of azoles?
Inhibit ergosterol synthesis
It does this by blocking ianosine 14a-demethylase, a fungal CYP-450-dependent enzyme that converts ianosterol to ergosterol
This will ultimately increase membrane fluidity, increase permeability, and inhibit fungal cell growth/replication
How are azoles administer? What is their clinical use? What are its contraindications?
Administered topically or systemically
Used for superficial fungal infections or systemic infections
Contraindicated in pregnancy, during lactation, or in patients with hepatic dysfunction
-it will also inhibit human gonadal steroid synthesis causing decreased testosterone
What is the most commonly prescribed systemic antifungal? It is the drug of choice for ____ but does not treat _____. It is contraindicated in ___ patients
Flucanazole
Candidiasis albicans (also used to treat fungal cryptococcal meningitis in AIDs patients
Aspergillus
Pregnant
What azole was the first azole and is used for systemic and topical therapy?
Ketoconazole
What azole requires low pH for absorption and is more toxic than fluconazole?
Itraconazole
What azole is administer topically only? It is used to treat Vulcan-vaginal candidiasis, oral candidiasis, and athletes foot.
Clotrimazole and miconazole
What drug is the first line treatment for aspergillus infections?
Vorconizole (an azole)
Ketoconozale and ____ should never be given together. Why?
Amphotericin B
Kentonazole decreases ergosterol in the fungal membrane and thus reduces the fungicidal action of amphotericin B
Amphotericin B is syndergistic with ____
Flucytosine