Antifungal agents used for deep-seated mycotic infections.

The main emphasis in this paper is on the broad-spectrum antifungal agent amphotericin B and the narrow-spectrum agent flucytosine. Amphotericin B remains the cornerstone of antifungal therapy. For the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis, the current recommendation is for the combined use of amphotericin B and flucytosine. 2-Hydrostilbamidine is used only in indolent cases of blastomycosis; this condition is usually treated with amphotericin B. A number of newer agents and combinations of drugs also warrant mention, but clinical experience is limited and these agents or combinations have not been approved for clinical use. Not all patients from whom fungal agents are isolated require treatment and the extent of the fungal infection should be determined when possible for evaluation of the need for treatment.