ScienceAugust 4, 2026

fluconazole

floo-KO-nuh-zohl

Definition

A common antifungal medication used to treat a variety of fungal infections, though it is ineffective against specific drug-resistant strains like Candida auris.

Etymology

The name is a portmanteau derived from its chemical structure: 'flu' for the fluorine atoms it contains, 'con' from triazole (its chemical class), and 'azole' for the nitrogen-containing ring present in the compound.

In the news

The article mentions fluconazole as an example of a standard antifungal medicine that fails to kill the 'superbug' Candida auris, leaving patients with few treatment options.

Fungal 'Superbug' is on the Rise in Southern US Hotspots

Read the full article ↗

mb.ntd.com

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