Antifungals: punch holes, stop the build, or break the wall?
Fungi are built differently from us — each class goes after a different part.
Select any card for the reasoning, what to watch for and an exam tip.
Antifungals
Key points
- Ergosterol is the fungal version of cholesterol: polyenes attack it, azoles and terbinafine stop it being made.
- Fluconazole does not cover Aspergillus; for prophylaxis, itraconazole is preferred when invasive aspergillosis is a risk.
- Nail infections need systemic treatment to be reliably effective; asymptomatic ones may need no treatment at all.
Key takeaway
Polyenes punch holes in the membrane, azoles and terbinafine stop ergosterol being made, and echinocandins break the cell wall.