Antimycotics
Synonyms
Drugs against mycoses; Drugs against fungal infections;
Antimycotic therapy; Antimycotic therapeutics;
Antifungal therapy; Antifungal therapeutics
Definition
Antimycotics are used to treat fungal infections of
the skin and the mucous membranes and systemic
mycoses. Several groups of substances with different
effects are available. The polyen-antimycotics amphotericin
B and nystatin are effective against dermatophytes
and yeasts by influencing the synthesis of the
fungal cell membrane. Substances, which belong to the
group of azole antimycotics, are clotrimazole (against
yeasts and cryptococcosis), ketoconazole (for local and
systemic mycoses) as well as miconazole and fluconazole
(both against yeasts and dermatophytes). Azole
antimycotics influence different parts of the fungal
metabolism. Flucytosine, which also interferes with
metabolic processes of the fungus, is used parenterally
in systemic yeast infections (candidiasis) and cryptococcosis.

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