how does cotrimoxazole (batrim) cure or treat pneumocytis carinii pneumonia when it is not an antifungal?

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Answers:
You're right.
Bactrim is not REALLY an anti fungal,but then,Pneumocystis carinii is not your typical fungus either.
Some parasitologists would rather classify it as a protozoan.
Many drugs have activities that inhibit parasitic growth,whether the parasite is a bacterium,protozoan,virus or fungus.
Bactrim (trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazol... or co-trimoxazole) is a case in point.It has the ability to inhibit folic acid,which is necessary for DNA/RNA activity in almost all parasites -Pnuemocystis carinii included.
Other drugs used for treatment of PCP (P.carinii pneumonia),which have anti-folate activity are Atovaquone and Trinetrexate.They have more side effects,though.
Pentamidine is another good drug against PCP and it works in a different way -it blocks oxidative phosphorylation and inhibits protein synthesis.it's usually used in combination with Bactrim when the patient is immuno-suppressed.

Other Answers:
cotrimoxazole is used as a prophylaxis for the said disease. it is actually a combo of 3 drugs. it is a ANTIBIOTIC combination. patients infected with this disease are usually with immune deficiency.... you know the drill... they can get infection easily. this type of disease is commonly associated w HIV

its a combination antibiotic, made up of 2 seperate drugs, which are sulfamethoxazole (anti fungal ) and trimethoprim (bacterial).

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how does cotrimoxazole (batrim) cure or treat pneumocytis carinii pneumonia when it is not an antifungal?

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