Walsh & Hoyt: Amphotericin B

Amphotericin B is the mainstay of treatment in almost all systemic fungal infections, particularly those that affect the CNS. It destroys fungi primarily by binding to one or more sterols in their cytoplasmic membrane, thus altering membrane permeability. Almost all systemic mycoses respond to treatment with this drug, either alone or in combination with other drugs. The extent of response is dependent on the underlying health and immunocompetence of the patient, the organismresponsible, and the severity and extent of the infection.