Antifungal agents

This chapter serves as a review of currently available antifungals administered via the enteral, intravenous, or inhalational route. The greater number of antifungal medications now available necessitates a detailed knowledge of each drug class. Amphotericin B deoxycholate and the lipid formulations, fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin, micafungin, anidulafungin, and flucytosine will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on pharmacodynamics and kinetics, drug interactions, adverse events, and evidence for their use including differences in their spectrum of activity. Selected clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of these agents will also be reviewed.