What type of medication is Foscarnet classified as?

Foscarnet is classified as an antiviral medication. It is specifically used to treat viral infections, particularly those caused by herpes viruses, including cytomegalovirus (CMV) in immunocompromised patients and acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus infections.

Antivirals like Foscarnet work by inhibiting viral replication, which is crucial in managing viral infections. Foscarnet’s mechanism of action involves blocking viral DNA polymerase, thereby preventing the synthesis of viral DNA. This direct antiviral activity is what makes it effective against certain viral infections.

In contrast, other options represent different classes or categories of medications. Nucleotide analogues are a type of antiviral but refer specifically to drugs that mimic nucleotides and thus interfere in the viral replication process at a different level. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors target the reverse transcriptase enzyme specifically for retroviruses, and corticosteroids are primarily used for their anti-inflammatory effects rather than for direct antiviral activity. Therefore, the classification of Foscarnet as an antiviral aligns with its intended use and therapeutic effects in clinical practice.