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Current Antifungal Agents for Treatment of Central Nervous System Infections

  • Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics of Antifungal Agents (P Gubbins, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Invasive fungal infections have been increasing in incidence worldwide, primarily due to the growing population of immunosuppressed patients. Fungal central nervous system infections carry a high rate of morbidity and mortality due to difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. This paper provides a review of antifungal agents currently available in the United States, highlighting the pros and cons of each medication in the treatment of CNS infections. Investigational treatment approaches with combination therapy and iron chelation for CNS infections are also discussed. Despite our many advances in modern medicine, we still lack highly effective therapeutic options for treatment of cerebral infections with the angioinvasive fungi Aspergillus and the zygomycetes.

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KS Coulter declares no conflicts of interest.

JR Bariola declares no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham St, Slot #639, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA

    Katrina S. Coulter & J. Ryan Bariola

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  1. Katrina S. Coulter
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  2. J. Ryan Bariola
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Correspondence to J. Ryan Bariola.

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Coulter, K.S., Bariola, J.R. Current Antifungal Agents for Treatment of Central Nervous System Infections. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 8, 146–152 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-014-0186-x

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