NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

Echinocandins are a class of antifungal medications that are primarily active against Candida species. They inhibit the synthesis of beta-1,3-glucan in the fungal cell wall, leading to cell wall weakening and ultimately cell death. Therefore, they are very effective in treating infections caused by various Candida species.

While echinocandins are active against Candida species, they are not typically effective against Cryptococcus neoformans, Zygomycetes, or Aspergillus species. Cryptococcus neoformans is usually treated with antifungal agents such as amphotericin B and fluconazole, Zygomycetes infections are often treated with amphotericin B and posaconazole, and Aspergillus species are commonly managed with antifungal agents like voriconazole and amphotericin B.