What are the examples of Echinocandins?
List of Echinocandins:
| Drug Name | Reviews |
|---|---|
| Mycamine (Pro) Generic name: micafungin | No reviews |
| Eraxis (Pro) Generic name: anidulafungin | No reviews |
| Cancidas (Pro) Generic name: caspofungin | No reviews |
How does echinocandins work?
Echinocandins work by inhibiting a glucosyltransferase enzyme (1→3)-β-D-glucan synthase, which is essential for the generation of (1→3)-β-D-glucan, an essential component that maintains the integrity of the fungal cell wall.
Are Echinocandins Fungistatic or fungicidal?
In vitro and in vivo, the echinocandins are rapidly fungicidal against most Candida spp and fungistatic against Aspergillus spp. They are not active at clinically relevant concentrations against Zygomycetes, Cryptococcus neoformans, or Fusarium spp. No drug target is present in mammalian cells.
Is caspofungin Fungistatic or fungicidal?
In vitro, caspofungin is fungicidal against Candida spp. and fungistatic against Aspergillus spp., but has little or no fungicidal or fungistatic activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, the Zygomycetes, Fusarium spp., or Trichosporon beigelii.
Is caspofungin an Echinocandin?
Background: The mainstays of treatment for nosocomial fungal infections have been amphotericin B and azole derivatives. Caspofungin acetate is a new echinocandin antifungal agent with a mechanism of action that targets a structural component of the fungal cell wall.
What are Echinocandins used to treat?
Echinocandins are widely used for the treatment of invasive candidiasis, especially in critically ill and neutropenic patients [4]. They are also used for empiric antifungal therapy in patients with neutropenic fever.
What is the strongest antifungal medication?
1. Terbinafine is more effective than griseofulvin, and can clear onychomycosis in 12 weeks rather than 12 months. 2. Ketoconazole is the treatment of choice for pityriasis rosea.
Is Echinocandins toxic?
Side effects. All three agents are well-tolerated, with the most common adverse effects being fever, rash, nausea, and phlebitis at the infusion site. They can also cause a histamine-like reaction (flushing) when infused too rapidly. Toxicity is uncommon.
What do echinocandins treat?
Which of the antifungal drugs are classified as echinocandins?
The introduction of echinocandins, a new class of antifungals, against this backdrop, is a promising development in antifungal therapy. Echinocandins are a group of semisynthetic, cyclic lipopeptides with an N-linked acyl lipid side chain. The drugs in the class are: caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin.
Is caspofungin broad spectrum?
In vitro, caspofungin has broad-spectrum antifungal activity against Candida and Aspergillus spp. without cross-resistance to existing agents. The compound exerts prolonged post-antifungal effects and fungicidal activity against Candida spp.
What are the names of the echinocandin drugs?
Caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin are three drugs of the echinocandin class of antifungals available for intravenous treatment of invasive candidiasis and aspergillosis. They exhibit high in vitro and in vivo activities against Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp.
Are there any drug interactions with echinocandins?
The echinocandins are well tolerated with few serious drug-drug interactions since they are not appreciable substrates, inhibitors or inducers of the cytochrome P450 or P-glycoprotein systems.
How are echinocandins used to treat fungal infections?
Antifungal activity against strains no longer susceptible to conventional antifungal agents, such as fluconazole and amphotericin B suggests that echinocandins can be used as salvage therapy in life-threatening fungal infections. There is no cross-resistance to other antifungals.
How are echinocandins distributed in the human body?
All echinocandins have low oral bioavailability, and distribute well into tissues, but poorly into the CNS and eye.