QIDP Antibiotics – 2015 Year-End Update

Here an updated listing of all QIDP drugs we are aware of as of 12/24/2015. Today just facts and numbers; we will provide an interpretation of the current landscape in upcoming blogs. There are 58 drugs which garnered QIDP status and these Continue reading QIDP Antibiotics – 2015 Year-End Update

Streptomyces – The Industrious Antibiotic Producer

Like other actinomycetes, the Streptomyces group of microbes straddles the somewhat artificial boundary between bacteria and fungi. Growth on culture plates looks ‘fungal’ and the organism produces spores and germtubes that look like mycelia.  Nonetheless these soil organisms are bacteria and of Continue reading Streptomyces – The Industrious Antibiotic Producer

Cresemba / Isavuconazole:  Not Just Another Azole

It is amazing how modifications to the azole structure have produced ever more potent, ever more useful antifungals.  Ketoconazole had limited usability because of its many side effects related to off-target sterol synthesis inhibition, solubility (or lack thereof) and erratic Continue reading Cresemba / Isavuconazole:  Not Just Another Azole

Nikkomycins Are Finally Getting Some Respect

Besides azoles, candins and the polyene class of antifungals there is not much to select from when it comes to systemic fungal infections.  Until the recent arrival of voriconazole and posaconazole, infections caused by molds always required amphotericin B to Continue reading Nikkomycins Are Finally Getting Some Respect

Some Curious Tidbits

Were you aware that… there is also an amphotericin A which has antifungal properties?  It has a broader spectrum but is much less potent than Amphotericin B and therefore not being used. [1] in 1946, the first truly randomized and partially blinded Continue reading Some Curious Tidbits