A 16-year-old boy presents to his pediatrician for evaluation of a growing rash on his scalp for the past 6 weeks. The rash is mildly pruritic. He denies sore throat, drainage from the lesion, or joint pain. His past medical history is significant for multiple middle ear infections as a child which required bilateral tympanostomy tube placement when he was 8 years old. He has otherwise been healthy. The patient does not use any alcohol or drugs. He is a sophomore in high school and plays on his school’s junior varsity wrestling team. He does not take any medications. Vital signs are temperature 36.8°C (98.2°F), blood pressure 111/68 mmHg, pulse 72 beats/minute, and respirations 10/min. Physical examination reveals a 4 cm erythematous, annular lesion on the left temporal scalp with central clearing and broken hair shafts. There is minimal overlying scale and the lesion is mildly tender to palpation. No lymphadenopathy is present. No further rash is present on the body.
KOH prep of a skin scraping shows thin, long tubes branching at acute angles. The patient is diagnosed with a dermatophyte infection and started on oral griseofulvin. Which of the following is the correct mechanism of action of griseofulvin?
The correct answer is:
E) Inhibits mitosis of fungal cells at metaphase
This patient has tinea capitis, a dermatophyte infection of the scalp. Because topical antifungals do not penetrate the root of the hair shaft, tinea capitis must be treated with an oral systemic antifungal agent. Griseofulvin is a first-line oral antifungal for the treatment of tinea capitis and works by inhibiting microtubule polymerization in fungal cells, thereby inhibiting mitosis at metaphase.
Answer choice A: Forms pores in the fungal cell membrane leading to leakage of cell contents, is incorrect. Amphotericin B works by binding erosterol and forming pores in the fungal cell membrane. It is used for severe systemic fungal infections.
Answer choice B: Induces cytochrome P450 activity, is incorrect. Griseofulvin is an inducer of cytochrome P450, but this is not the means by which it acts as an antifungal. Other cytochrome P450 inhibitors include St. John’s wart, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and rifampin.
Answer choice C: Inhibits ß(1,3)-D-glucan synthesis, is incorrect. Echinocandins, such as capsofungin, inhibit ß(1,3)-D-glucan synthesis for the fungal cell wall. It is typically used for invasive Candida infections
Answer choice D: Inhibits ergosterol formation, is incorrect. Azoles, such as fluconazole, inhibit the formation of ergosterol. They are broad spectrum antifungals, and oral fluconazole can also be used to treat tinea capitis.
Key Learning Point
Griseofulvin is a first-line oral antifungal for the treatment of tinea capitis and works by inhibiting microtubule polymerization in fungal cells, thereby inhibiting mitosis at metaphase.
