THERAPY FOR FUNGAL-INFECTIONS

In the past, few pharmacologic agents were available for management of fungal disease. After the early introduction of amphotericin B and mi conazole, the more recent advent of several new antifungal agents, inc luding ketoconazole, fluconazole, and itraconazole has expanded the op tions for treatment of fungal infections. The dramatic increase in num ber of immunocompromised patients-both those with acquired immunodefic iency syndrome (AIDS) and those with immunosuppression for other reaso ns, such as organ transplantation-emphasizes the importance of therape utic strategies for combating systemic mycoses. In this article, we re view our personal recommendations for treating histoplasmosis, blastom ycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and cryptococcosis, along with other less common fungal infections, and discuss the efficacy and toxic effects o f the various antifungal drugs.