What's New in Antifungals?

The incidence of fungal infections is steadily rising. Until recently, clinicians have been limited in the number of effective antifungal agents at their disposal. Our traditional antifungal agents have either been hampered by troublesome side effects or a limited spectrum of activity. Due to the rising demand for better antifungal agents there are more agents in development than ever. Voriconazole and caspofungin are the most recent agents approved for use, offer a broad spectrum of activity, and are generally well tolerated. Several other novel agents are moving into clinical trials. A better understanding of these novel agents is critical for clinicians to effectively treat emerging fungal pathogens.