Systemic Fungal Infections
Systemic fungal infections are invasive conditions in which fungi spread beyond the skin or mucous membranes into deeper tissues and organs. Antifungal resistance is making them harder to manage.
Key points
- Invasive fungal infections occur predominantly in patients whose immune defences or physical barriers are compromised, including intensive care patients, those with prolonged neutropenia, and those with HIV.
- Intensive care patients may develop invasive fungal infections even without neutropenia, due to breaches in skin integrity, long-term intravascular lines, parenteral nutrition, severe systemic illness, or prolonged broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy.
Medicines listed for Systemic Fungal Infections
The single product listed for systemic fungal infections is Nizoral, a 200mg tablet containing ketoconazole. Ketoconazole is an antifungal that interferes with the cell membrane fungi need to survive. Nizoral is also listed for tinea corporis and seborrhoeic dermatitis.
