Topical Azole Antimycotics for Superficial Fungal Infections

A supplement to Skin & Allergy News and supported by an unrestricted educational grant from OrthoNeutrogena.
This supplement was jointly sponsored by The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education (EOCME), an ACCME accredited provider, and Skin & Allergy News.

•Faculty
•Target Audience
•Educational Needs
•Learning Objectives
•Accreditation

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Faculty

James Q. Del Rosso, DO, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Dermatology
University of Nevada School of Medicine
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, Henderson
Dermatology Residency Director
Valley Hospital Medical Center
Las Vegas
Dr. Del Rosso has served as a consultant, speaker, and researcher for Amgen, Coria, CollaGenex, Galderma, Graceway, Intendis, Medicis, Novartis, OrthoNeutrogena, Stiefel, and Warner-Chilcott, has served as a researcher for QLT, and has served as a consultant and speaker for SkinMedica.
Target Audience

Dermatologists, podiatrists, and other health care professionals who treat patients diagnosed with superficial fungal infections.

Educational Needs

The management of superficial fungal infections can be a significant challenge for clinicians working in the dermatology, primary care, and podiatric patient care settings. Although there are a variety of topical antifungal agents available to treat superficial mycoses, treatment is complicated by many factors, including the increasing incidence and pathogenicity of many fungal microorganisms, reduced sensitivity to traditional antifungal agents, the limited spectra of some therapies, and patient noncompliance with therapy. Furthermore, there are numerous antifungal agents that have demonstrated efficacy in one or more fungal indications, but the majority of these are now available only in generic formulations, which may be limited by product instability and/or decreased cosmetic acceptability. This article will provide an overview of the imidazole class of azole antifungal agents with a focus on sertaconazole. Sertaconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent with antibacterial, antipruritic, and anti-inflammatory/anti-itch properties that is currently indicated for tinea pedis in the United States but has broader therapeutic indications in Europe.

Learning Objectives

After completing this educational activity, participants should be able to:
• List the groups of organisms against which azole antifungals are active and realize the breadth of sertaconazole's activity against various organisms involved in superficial fungal infections.
• Understand how the absorption characteristics of sertaconazole could translate into therapeutic benefit.
• Describe sertaconazole's dual mechanism of action and what makes it unique among azole antifungals
• Recognize the role of bacterial colonization in some fungal infections such as tinea pedis and intertrigo.
• Discuss the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of sertaconazole.
• Appreciate sertaconazole's clinical efficacy and safety in gynecologic conditions and dermatologic conditions other than tinea pedis.

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education (EOCME) and Skin & Allergy News. The EOCME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The EOCME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA/PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Term of Approval: May 2007-May 31, 2008.

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Inc.

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