Fluconazole

Fluconazole, commonly known as Diflucan, is an antifungal drug used for the treatment of both systemic and superficial fungal infections in a variety of tissues. It was initially approved by the FDA in 1990. This drug is an azole antifungal, in the same drug family as ketoconazole and itraconazole. Fluconazole has many advantages over the other antifungal drugs including the option of oral administration. The side effect profile of this drug is minimal. It has been demonstrated as an efficacious treatment for vaginal yeast infections in one single dose.

Fluconazole can be administered in the treatment of the following fungal infections:

1) Vaginal yeast infections caused by Candida

2) Systemic Candida infections

3) Both esophageal and oropharyngeal candidiasis

4) Cryptococcal meningitis

5) UTI (urinary tract infection) by Candida

6) Peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum) caused by Candida

A note on fungal infection prophylaxis

Patients receiving bone marrow transplantation who are treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be predisposed to candida infections, and may receive fluconazole as prophylactic therapy.

A note on laboratory testing

Obtaining specimens for fungal culture and other important laboratory studies such as serology or pathology is advised before starting fluconazole therapy in order to isolate the organisms to be eliminated through treatment. It is permissible to start therapy before the results are available, however, adjusting the therapy once laboratory results confirm the causative organism may be necessary.