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Antifungals

Fungal infections can include infections of the joints and skin. Some fungal infections occur as a result of opportunistic infection of a weakened or immune-suppressed individual. The incidence of life-threatening fungal infections has increased dramatically as the population of immunocompromised individuals (including cancer, organ transplant and AIDS patients) has increased. Fungal infections are probably the most common disorder of nails encountered in medical practice. Fungal infections in, under and around human fingernails and toenails can be painful, unattractive and difficult to treat. Such fungal infections, otherwise referred to as onychomycosis, ringworm of nails or tinea unguium, can cause thickening, roughness and splitting of nails. Known fungal organisms include Epidermophyton floccusum, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton megninii, Trichophyton schoenleinii, Trichophyton tonsurans and Candida albicans. Fungi, particularly species of Candida, Aspergillus, and Fusarium are a major cause of infection-related mortality in patients with leukemia and lymphoma. In addition, fungal infection is a major cause of mortality in patients with congenital and acquired deficiencies of the immune system. The most common systemic fungal infections in man are candidosis, aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis and cryptococcosis. Antifungals such as ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole are employed for the treatment and prophylaxis of systemic fungal infections in immunocompromised patients.

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