Analysis of the range of antifungal drugs for systemic use and evidence-based clinical efficacy and safety of fluconazole

Abstract

Today, according to the WHO, every fifth inhabitant of the Earth is infected with fungi, and every tenth has pronounced clinical manifestations of fungal diseases. The incidence of mycotic foot infections among the population both in Ukraine and in various European countries varies from 20 to 70 %.Aim. To analyze the assortment of antifungal drugs for systemic use at the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine within 2016-2018 and the evidence base for efficacy and safety of the antifungal drug – fluconazole.Materials and methods. The analysis of the assortment of antifungal drugs was performed within 2016-2018 according to the “Pharmstandard” information and search system “Morion” of company. The analysis of clinical efficacy and safety of fluconazole was carried out according to the evidence-based medicine databases, such as Cochrane Library, Trip Database, PubMed, Nice.Results. Antifungal drugs for systemic use were presented at the pharmaceutical market within 2016-2018 in a sufficient assortment (103-111 TN drugs) based on 7 INN. However, most INN drugs were presented by 1-4 TN and had a narrow price range per package. Only fluconazole preparations had a significant amount of TH at the market (79-89 TN drugs) with a wide range of prices per package (from 8.63 to 1407.29 UAH). In 10 systematic reviews analyzed the results of clinical efficacy and safety of fluconazole for the prevention and treatment of fungal infections in children and adults were presented. Fluconazole has the proven pronounced clinical efficacy and is recommended by the American and European Communities of Infectious Diseases as a first-line therapy for candida infections.Conclusions. The analysis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses prove the safety and efficacy of fluconazole when used in children and adults for the prevention and treatment of fungal infections.