Description
In recent years there has been an increase in the number of drugs that are available to treat serious fungal infections. Lipid-associated amphotericin B formulations offer reduced toxicity compared with conventional amphotericin B. New triazole antifungals offer improvement in antifungal spectrum over existing agents. The echinocandins represent a new antifungal class, whose fungus-specific target results in minimal toxicity, and offers the possibility of their use in combination therapy, after appropriate clinical trials. All these agents are more expensive than the drugs that they are designed to replace or supplement. It is therefore imperative that hospitals develop robust, evidence-based guidelines on which to base decisions about the incorporation of these drugs into local formularies, and their use in specific clinical situations.
