Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Exam Prep 2026 – Complete Practice Resource

The most effective treatment for persistent fungal infections affecting the nails is oral antifungals. These medications work systemically to eradicate fungal infections that may not respond adequately to topical treatments, especially when dealing with conditions like onychomycosis, which affects the toenails and fingernails.

Oral antifungals such as terbinafine and itraconazole have demonstrated efficacy in penetrating the nail bed and promoting nail regrowth free from infection. Because nail infections can involve deeper layers of nail tissue, topical treatments alone often fall short, particularly in cases where the infection is severe or longstanding.

Topical steroids are primarily used for inflammatory conditions rather than fungal infections, antibiotics target bacterial infections, and antiviral medications are effective against viruses, but they do not have any impact on fungal pathogens. Therefore, for a persistent fungal nail infection, oral antifungals are the recommended choice due to their ability to address the infection effectively from within the body.