Etest for assessing the susceptibility of filamentous fungi

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Etest as an in vitro antifungal susceptibility test method for different moulds originating from human samples and from the environment. A total of 50 isolates (1 Acremonium, 18 Aspergillus, 2 Cladosporium, 1 Epicoccum, 15 Penicillium, 2 Scopulariopsis and 11 Trichoderma strains) were tested by the Etest. Forty-six of the tested moulds (92%) were resistant to fluconazole with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) > or = 256 microg ml(-1). There were strains resistant to ketoconazole among Aspergillus niger, A. ochraceus and Cladosporium spp. with MICs > 32 microg ml(-1). For fluconazole, no differences were observed using two different inocula, while for itraconazole, ketoconazole and amphotericin B, a 1 or less step 2-fold dilution difference in MIC was seen for the most of 10 selected strains. The MICs of fluconazole and amphotericin B obtained for Trichoderma strains by the Etest and the agar dilution method were also compared. MICs for fluconazole were in agreement, while MICs for amphotericin B were higher with 1 or 2 steps of 2-fold dilutions for most of Trichoderma strains in the case of the agar dilution method.     

In vitro susceptibility of dematiaceous fungi to ten antifungal drugs using an agar diffusion test

We assessed the usefulness of an agar diffusion method, NeoSensitabs, to determine in vitro sensitivity of 52 isolates of dematiaceous filamentous fungi against ten antifungal agents: amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine, bifonazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, and griseofulvin. For the preparation of the inoculum, a spectrophotometric method including both Shadomy and Casitone agar (CAS) culture media was used. Dematiaceous filamentous fungi were sensitive to itraconazole, terbinafine and bifonazole. Ketoconazole (90.4%), miconazole (71%), and clotrimazole (46%) showed a variable susceptibility pattern. Most species were resistant to griseofulvin and fluconazole (96%). All isolates were resistant to 5-fluorocytosine. Sixty-three percent of strains were susceptible to amphotericin B and 28.8% resistant. Inhibition zones in the antifungal susceptibility testing did not vary according to culture medium, although fungal growth was better in CAS. Variations in antifungal sensitivity in Exophiala spinifera and Fonsecaea pedrosoi spp. would justify an in vitro susceptibility study when indicating antifungal therapy. These results show that NeoSensitabs agar diffusion method is simple, rapid, and low-cost and can be available to many clinical laboratories for the study of in vitro sensitivity of dematiceous moulds.     

Use of spectrophotometric reading for in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of Aspergillus spp

A comparative study of visual and spectrophotometric MIC endpoint determinations for antifungal susceptibility testing of Aspergillus species was performed. A broth microdilution method adapted from the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) was used for susceptibility testing of 180 clinical isolates of Aspergillus species against amphotericin B and itraconazole. MICs were determined visually and spectrophotometrically at 490 nm after 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation, and MIC pairs were compared. The agreement between the two methods was 99% for amphotericin B and ranged from 95 to 98% for itraconazole. It is concluded that spectrophotometric MIC endpoint determination is a valuable alternative to the visual reference method for susceptibility testing of Aspergillus species.     

重症监护病房白念珠菌耐药性8年变化趋势

目的调查上海长征医院重症监护室(ICU)近8 a中临床分离白念珠菌的耐药性变化,为临床治疗提供参考。方法上海长征医院ICU 2002～2009年从414例患者中首次分离出414株白念珠菌,对其中277株进行药敏试验。采用Cox-Stuart趋势检验回顾性分析临床分离真菌中白念珠菌所占比例变化趋势和白念珠菌对常用抗真菌药物耐药率的变化趋势。结果 2002～2009年间,上海长征医院ICU白念珠菌分离株数从2002年的34株增加至2009年的92株,但白念珠菌占总真菌分离株数的百分比维持在34.6%～55.7%,P=0.03。白念珠菌对于5-氟胞嘧啶和两性霉素B平均耐药率分别为4.0%和0.7%,对其他常用抗真菌药的耐药率依次为咪康唑47.0%、酮康唑10.8%、伊曲康唑19.9%、特比萘芬42.6%、氟康唑14.6%及伏立康唑13.0%。白念珠菌对5-氟胞嘧啶和两性霉素B和伊曲康唑耐药率的8年变化无统计学差异。结论上海长征医院ICU近8 a来白念珠菌仍然为临床较为常见的真菌分离株,但白念珠菌占总分离株数的百分比有逐渐减少的趋势。白念珠菌对常用抗真菌药物耐药性均无明显变化趋势。     

In Vitro Susceptibility of Environmental Isolates of Exophiala dermatitidis to Five Antifungal Drugs

Several dematiaceous fungi frequently isolated from nature are involved in cases of superficial lesions to lethal cerebral infections. Antifungal susceptibility data on environmental and clinical isolates are still sparse despite the advances in testing methods. The objective of this study was to examine the activities of 5-flucytosine, amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole and terbinafine against environmental isolates of Exophiala strains by minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) determination. The strains were obtained from hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, ant cuticle and fungal pellets from the infrabuccal pocket of attine gynes. Broth microdilution assay using M38-A2 reference methodology for the five antifungal drugs and DNA sequencing for fungal identification were applied. Terbinafine was the most active drug against the tested strains. It was observed that amphotericin B was less effective, notably against Exophiala spinifera, also studied. High MICs of 5-flucytosine against Exophiala dermatitidis occurred. This finding highlights the relevance of studies on the antifungal resistance of these potential opportunistic species. Our results also contribute to a future improvement of the standard methods to access the drug efficacy currently applied to black fungi.     

地塞米松影响念珠菌对抗真菌药物敏感性的实验研究

目的 探讨地塞米松在体外试验中是否影响念珠菌对抗真菌药物的敏感性,以了解糖皮质激素与抗真菌药物直接作用于念珠菌时是否存在相互作用。方法 用微量液体培养基稀释法分别测定26株白念珠菌与地塞米松（0．2mg／ml）共同孵育前、孵育24～48h及7d时氟康唑、伊曲康唑、两性霉素B的最低抑菌浓度（MIC）值,并作对照。结果 白念珠菌与地塞米松孵育24～48h后、孵育后第7d氟康唑和伊曲康唑的MIC值升高,分别与孵育前的MIC值存在统计学差异,但孵育24～48h后的MIC与孵育后第7d的MIC无统计学差异;白念珠菌与地塞米松共同孵育24～48h后两性霉素B的MIC值也较孵育前升高,但第7d的MIC值与孵育前无差异。结论 地塞米松可增加三种抗真菌药物对于白念珠菌的MIC,但三种抗真菌药物间存在差异,表明地塞米松对于氟康唑和伊曲康唑体外抗白念珠菌的活性有拮抗作用,但没有时间依赖性,地塞米松对于两性霉素B的影响较氟康唑和伊曲康唑小,且影响时间较短。     

Subculture on potato dextrose agar as a complement to the broth microdilution assay for Malassezia pachydermatis

The main aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of subculture on potato dextrose agar (PDA) as a complement to the in vitro susceptibility test for Malassezia pachydermatis strains by a broth microdilution method, as well as to determine the MIC and MFC of azole derivatives, amphotericin B and caspofungin. The microdilution assay was performed in 96-well plates using a modified RPMI 1640 medium. The M. pachydermatis strains were resistant to caspofungin. All strains (n=50) had shown MIC values of <0.03, <0.03, 2.0, 4.0 and 4.0 mug/ml for itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole and amphotericin B, respectively. Thus, the subculture on PDA improved the analysis of the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of M. pachydermatis.     

Microbiological Characteristics of Medically Important <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichosporon</Emphasis> Species

Trichosporon species are opportunistic pathogens associated with a high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Disseminated trichosporonosis is uncommon but reports are increasing. In this study, using 16 stock clinical isolates of suspected Trichosporon species and 4 known Trichosporon strains, we investigated the morphology, physio-biochemistry, molecular biology and antifungal susceptibility characteristics of these Trichosporon spp. and discovered that ITS sequence-based identification is a rapid and accurate identification alternative to most phenotypic or physio- biochemical methods. In vitro antifungal susceptibility tests showed high amphotericin B, itraconazole and terbinafine MIC value in these Trichosporon strains.     

In vitro resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole in clinical isolates of Candida spp and Cryptococcus neoformans

An in vitro susceptibility testing of 181 strains of six species of Candida and 21 strains of Cryptococcus neoformans was carried out in order to investigate the resistance to new antifungal drugs. We have studied clinical isolates from 200 different patients of Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) and Hospital La Inmaculada (Almería). An agar diffusion method (NeoSensitabs, Rosco, Taastrup, Denmark), was employed with fluconazole, itraconazole, and reference drugs amphotericin B, flucytosine, tioconazole and ketoconazole. A high level of susceptibility was found for amphotericin B in C. neoformans strains while 19% of them were resistant to flucytosine. All the strains of C. neoformans and Candida guilliermondii were susceptible to the new azoles derivatives and also Candida parapsilosis and Candida albicans had a great susceptibility to this antifungals. A greater level of resistance was found for Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata to fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole, but resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole is not always linked because ten resistant strains for fluconazole were susceptible to itraconazole, and two other resistant to itraconazole were susceptible to fluconazole.     

Antifungal Activity of Antifungal Drugs,as Well as Drug Combinations Against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Exophiala dermatitidis</Emphasis>

To evaluate the in vitro efficacy of common antifungal drugs, as well as the interactions of caspofungin with voriconazole, amphotericin B, or itraconazole against the pathogenic black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis from China, the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of terbinafine, voriconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, fluconazole, and caspofungin against 16 strains of E. dermatitidis were determined by using CLSI broth microdilution method (M38-A2). The minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were also determined. Additionally, the interactions of caspofungin with voriconazole, amphotericin B, itraconazole or fluconazole, that of terbinafine with itraconazole, or that of fluconazole with amphotericin B were assessed by using the checkerboard technique. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was used to categorize drug interactions as following, synergy, FICI ≤ 0.5; indifference, FICI > 0.5 and ≤4.0; or antagonism, FICI > 4.0. The MIC ranges of terbinafine, voriconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, fluconazole, and caspofungin against E. dermatitidis were 0.06–0.125 mg/l, 0.25–1.0 mg/l, 1.0–2.0 mg/l, 1.0–2.0 mg/l, 16–64 mg/l, and 32–64 mg/l, respectively. The in vitro interactions of caspofungin with voriconazole, amphotericin B, and itraconazole showed synergic effect against 10/16(62.5%), 15/16(93.75%), and 16/16(100%) isolates, while that of caspofungin with fluconazole showed indifference. Besides, the interaction of terbinafine with itraconazole as well as that of fluconazole with amphotericin B showed indifference. Terbinafine, voriconazole, itraconazole, and amphotericin B have good activity against E. dermatitidis. The combinations of caspofungin with voriconazole, amphotericin B or itraconazole present synergic activity against E. dermatitidis. These results provide the basis for novel options in treating various E. dermatitidis infections.     

Evaluation of Antifungal Susceptibility Testing with Microdilution and Etest Methods of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida</Emphasis> Blood Isolates

Candida species that show an increasing number of clinical and/or microbiological resistance to several antifungals and are the most common agents of invasive fungal infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro susceptibility of Candida blood isolates to antifungal agents (amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole) by comparative use of the CLSI reference microdilution method and Etest. Four hundred Candida blood isolates (215 Candida albicans, 185 non-albicans Candida strains) were included in the study. The broth microdilution test was performed according to the CLSI M27 A2 document. Etest was carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The MIC results obtained with reference microdilution were compared with those obtained with the Etest by using percent and categorical agreements. According to MIK₉₀ values, voriconazole was the most active and itraconazole was the least active drug in vitro against all Candida species. Other than voriconazole, statistically significant differences were found when the susceptibility of Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida spp. to amphotericin B, fluconazole, and itraconazole were compared. These antifungal agents were found to be more active to C. albicans. Among the non-albicans Candida species, the lowest MIC values were obtained for Candida parapsilosis isolates. When the standard method was compared with Etest, the total agreement was higher for C. albicans than for non-albicans species, especially for fluconazole and voriconazole. In view of the findings, it was concluded that itraconazole showed the lowest activity against all Candida species. Etest could be an alternative method in assessing the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp., but it is more convenient to use the microdilution method for studying in vitro susceptibility of non-albicans species, in particular for those possessing high MIC values against azoles.     

Melanins Protect Sporothrix brasiliensis and Sporothrix schenckii from the Antifungal Effects of Terbinafine

Terbinafine is a recommended therapeutic alternative for patients with sporotrichosis who cannot use itraconazole due to drug interactions or side effects. Melanins are involved in resistance to antifungal drugs and Sporothrix species produce three different types of melanin. Therefore, in this study we evaluated whether Sporothrix melanins impact the efficacy of antifungal drugs. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFC) of two Sporothrix brasiliensis and four Sporothrix schenckii strains grown in the presence of the melanin precursors L-DOPA and L-tyrosine were similar to the MIC determined by the CLSI standard protocol for S. schenckii susceptibility to amphotericin B, ketoconazole, itraconazole or terbinafine. When MICs were determined in the presence of inhibitors to three pathways of melanin synthesis, we observed, in four strains, an increase in terbinafine susceptibility in the presence of tricyclazole, a DHN-melanin inhibitor. In addition, one S. schenckii strain grown in the presence of L-DOPA had a higher MFC value when compared to the control. Growth curves in presence of 2×MIC concentrations of terbinafine showed that pyomelanin and, to a lesser extent, eumelanin were able to protect the fungi against the fungicidal effect of this antifungal drug. Our results suggest that melanin protects the major pathogenic species of the Sporothrix complex from the effects of terbinafine and that the development of new antifungal drugs targeting melanin synthesis may improve sporotrichosis therapies.     

Multicenter survey of in vitro antifungal resistance in yeasts of medical importance isolated from Spanish patients

Twelve Spanish laboratories collected 325 yeast clinical isolates during a 30 day's period, among them 224 Candida albicans, 30 Candida glabrata, and 27 Candida parapsilosis. In vitro antifungal susceptibility to amphotericin B, ketoconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole was determined by an agar diffusion test (Neo-Sensitabs, Rosco, Denmark). All the isolates tested were susceptible in vitroto amphotericin B and nearly all (97.2%) to itraconazole. In vitrosusceptibility to fluconazole and ketoconazole was high (90.2% and 91.4% of isolates, respectively) but showed variations depending on the species tested. Resistance to fluconazole and ketoconazole was low in C. albicans (4% and 3%, respectively), but 30% of Candida guilliermondii and 36% of C. glabrata isolates were resistant to fluconazole. Ketoconazole resistance was observed in 40% of C. glabrata, and 17% of Candida tropicalis. Resistance to antifungal drugs is very low in Spain and it is related to non-C. albicans isolates.     

男性尿道炎和包皮龟头炎致病真菌的分布与药敏分析

目的了解男性念珠菌性尿道炎和包皮龟头炎的菌群分布及体外抗真菌药敏试验情况。方法菌株分离均来自复旦大学附属华山医院皮肤性病门诊临床症状轻重不一、真菌直接镜检阳性的61例患者。用科玛嘉念珠菌显色培养基及API 20C AUX鉴定系统进行菌种鉴定;采用CLSIM27-A2肉汤微量稀释法对61株临床分离念珠菌作了氟康唑、两性霉素B、氟胞嘧啶、伊曲康唑、伏立康唑、特比萘芬6种抗真菌药物敏感性测定。结果对培养阳性的61例菌株,通过科玛嘉念珠菌显色培养基及API 20C AUX鉴定系统作菌种鉴定,白念珠菌52例（85.2%）,近平滑念珠菌3例,光滑念珠菌2例,热带念珠菌2例,季也蒙念珠菌1例,克柔念珠菌1例。对52株白念珠菌的药敏试验显示氟康唑98.1%敏感,1.9%剂量依赖性敏感;氟胞嘧啶96.2%敏感,3.8%耐药;伊曲康唑44.2%敏感,40.5%剂量依赖性敏感,15.3%耐药;伏立康唑84.6%敏感,15.4%耐药;两性霉素B全部敏感;特比萘芬的MIC范围为1-64μg/ml,MIC50和MIC90皆为64μg/ml。结论在男性念珠菌性尿道炎和包皮龟头炎中,白念珠菌仍是第一位致病菌,体外药敏试验显示氟康唑、伏立康唑、氟胞嘧啶、两性霉素B对男性念珠菌性尿道炎均有较好的敏感性。     

Prevalence of otomycosis in malnourished children in Edo State,Nigeria

Out of the total number at 200 suspected cases of otomycoses consisting of 40 malnourished and 160 apparently healthy children examined in this study between the months of July and August in Edo State, 64 Cases (32%) were identified to be of fungal aetiology on the basis of positive culture and careful microscopic exarnination. The state at protein energy malnourishment was deterwined using physicians' comments in their case files. The fungal agents isolated were Aspergillus niger 28 (43.8%); A. fumigatus 4 (25%); Fusarium solari 4 (6.3%); Candida albicans 8 (12.5%); and Hendersonula teruloidea types torn B 5 (6.3%). Of these isolates, A. niger having an solation rate of (43.8%) was found to be the most predominant fungal species associated with otomycosis. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

In Candida albicans, resistance to flucytosine and terbinafine is linked to MAT locus homozygosity and multilocus sequence typing clade 1

A panel of 637 isolates of Candida albicans that had been typed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and tested for susceptibility to amphotericin B, caspofungin, fluconazole, flucytosine, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, terbinafine and voriconazole was the material for a statistical analysis of possible associations between antifungal susceptibility and other properties. For terbinafine and flucytosine, the greatest proportion of low-susceptibility isolates, judged by two resistance breakpoints, was found in MLST clade 1 and among isolates homozygous at the MAT locus, although only three isolates showed cross-resistance to the two agents. Most instances of low susceptibility to azoles, flucytosine and terbinafine were among oropharyngeal isolates from HIV-positive individuals. Statistically significant correlations were found between terbinafine and azole minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), while correlations between flucytosine MICs and azole MICs were less strong. It is concluded that a common regulatory mechanism may operate to generate resistance to the two classes of agent that inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis, terbinafine and the azoles, but that flucytosine resistance, although still commonly associated with MAT homozygosity, is differently regulated.     

Determination of susceptibility/resistance to antifungal drugs of Trichophyton mentagrophytes isolates by a macrodilution method

Onychomycosis is a common adult human mycosis, and dermatophytes of the Trichophyton genera are the most frequently isolated microorganism. Globally, from 3% to 10% of the human population is attacked by ony cho mycosis, and many cases involve toenails. The aim of this work was to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antifungal drugs (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine, and griseofulvin) often used for the treatment of ungueal dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The MICs were determined by the broth medium macrodilution method. The results showed that activities of terbinafine and itraconazole were significantly higher (MIC <0.007-0.015 microg.mL -1 and MIC = 0.062-1.000 microg.mL -1, respectively). All isolates had reduced susceptibility to fluconazole (MIC = 16 to >64 microg.mL -1). The MICs of ketoconazole and griseofulvin varied among strains, ranging from 0.125 to 2.000 microg.mL -1 for ketoconazole and from 0.25 to 2.00 microg.mL -1 for griseofulvin. These MICs were higher than those of other studies cited, possibly because of differences in culture medium used in the other studies.     

In vitro susceptibility of fungal and yeast clinical isolates to itraconazole and voriconazole

The interest on the in vitro susceptibility to itraconazole has recently increased due the availability of the intravenous formulation. In this study, comparative MICs of this antifungal with voriconazole were carried out in 62 clinical isolates of filamentous fungi and 100 yeasts isolates using the NCCLS microbroth methods described in M38-A and M27-A2 documents. A MIC90 of 0.125 micrograms per ml was observed for itraconazole and voriconazole against Aspergillus fumigatus. Higher susceptibility to itraconazole was found for the filamentous form of Sporotrhix schenckii (p = 0.001). Voriconazole was more effective against Scedosporium apiospermium while Scedosporium prolificans isolates were resistant to both azoles. Some isolates of Rhizopus stolonifer were susceptible to itraconazole and resistant to voriconazole, but without statistical significance. Susceptibility of nine species of Candida was similar for both triazoles used in this study. However, Candida glabrata was more susceptible to voriconazole. Some fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans isolates were susceptible to itraconazole and / or voriconazole. Cryptococcus neoformans was more susceptible to itraconazole than to voriconazole. Itraconazole and voriconazole showed very close in vitro activity against the tested fungal isolated, except against S. schenckii. In spite of this, there were some differences in susceptibility among isolates within the same fungal species.     

In vitro antifungal resistance in Candida albicans from HIV-infected patients with and without oral candidosis.

The main purpose of this study has been to determine the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates from HIV-infected or AIDS patients, depending on the presence of oral candidosis. The oral cavity of 307 HIV-infected or AIDS patients was examined and an oral swab was cultured on Sabouraud glucose agar and studied by conventional mycological methods. In vitro antifungal susceptibility to amphotericin B, nystatin, fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole was tested by disk diffusion with Neo-Sensitabs tablets (Rosco Diagnostica, Dinamarca). One hundred and thirty five Candida albicans isolates (91 serotype A, 38 serotype B, three C. albicans variety stellatoidea and three untyped isolates), three Candida krusei and two Candida glabrata were obtained. All the isolates were susceptible to nystatin and amphotericin B. However, 7.9% isolates were resistant to fluconazole and 2.9% isolates were resistant to ketoconazole or itraconazole. Nearly all C. krusei and C. glabrata isolates, 31% patients with candidosis and 20% Candida-colonized patients showed decreased susceptibility to azoles. This study shows that polyenes had a great in vitro efficacy against clinical isolates from HIV-infected patients and that in vitro resistance to azoles is not as high as observed in other countries.