Oral antifungal therapy. Current status of ketoconazole.

Ketoconazole, an oral, broad-spectrum antifungal agent with relatively low toxicity, is the preferred drug for treatment of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and an alternative choice for treatment of thrush, vaginitis, histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis. Clinical trials have shown it to be effective also against dermatophytoses. Further testing is necessary to determine its effectiveness for treating blastomycosis, cryptococcosis, sporotrichosis, and aspergillosis.