Final answer:
Amphotericin B Liposome (Ambisome) is used to treat fungal infections, specifically systemic infections, and it works by disrupting fungal cell membranes. It is sometimes used in combination with flucytosine, especially for severe infections like cryptococcal meningitis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amphotericin B Liposome (Ambisome) is commonly used to treat fungal infections. Amphotericin B targets fungal cell membranes, creating pores that disrupt the cells' integrity, leading to the cells' death. It effectively treats systemic fungal infections like aspergillosis, cryptococcal meningitis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and candidiasis. The use of Amphotericin B can, however, lead to nephrotoxicity, necessitating a careful balance between the drug's benefits and potential risks.
Amphotericin B is often combined with flucytosine, which disrupts both DNA replication and protein synthesis in fungi. This combination is typically used for severe infections, such as the initial treatment of pulmonary infections caused by Cryptococcus, which also require a post-treatment maintenance phase with drugs like fluconazole to fully clear the fungus.