Infectious Disease Section 5.3- Antifungal Agents

Fungal infections are commonly encountered across healthcare settings, ranging from oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections to serious systemic infections in critically ill patients. In this episode, we’ll review the major antifungal medications nurses should know, including azoles, echinocandins, polyenes, and topical antifungals. We’ll focus on practical nursing considerations such as monitoring for adverse effects, recognizing important drug interactions, administration tips, and patient education points. By the end of the episode, listeners will have a stronger understanding of how antifungal medications work and how nurses play a key role in ensuring safe and effective treatment.

You can find the full 16+ hour nursing pharmacology review course, including PDF handouts, cheat sheets, practice questions, and on-demand videos at meded101.com!

Fluconazole Pharmacology

On this episode of the RLP podcast, I discuss fluconazole pharmacology.

Fluconazole prevents fungi from producing essential components for their cell membrane and thus inhibits their growth.

Drug interactions are common with fluconazole. Fluconazole inhibits CYP3A4, 2C9, and 2C19 to varying degrees.

I discuss an interaction between fluconazole and phenytoin in this podcast episode.

Hepatitis has rarely been reported with the use of azole antifungals like fluconazole.

I discuss important drug interactions on the podcast, be sure to check out my latest project which is a 200+ page book on managing drug interactions in primary care.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Terbinafine Pharmacology

Terbinafine can inhibit CYP2D6 which plays an important role in the metabolism of many drugs such as metoprolol, fluoxetine, and clozapine.

With terbinafine’s ability to inhibit CYP2D6, it can also increase the risk of treatment failure with drugs like tamoxifen.

When using anti-fungal drugs like terbinafine, remember that fungal infections can often require more time to treat.

Terbinafine has the potential to cause liver impairment. I discuss this further on the podcast.

I discuss important drug interactions on the podcast, be sure to check out my latest project which is a 200+ page book on managing drug interactions in primary care.