Retrospective observation of drug susceptibility of strains in the years 1999, 2004, and 2015.

INTRODUCTION

There is much literature devoted to the problem of drug resistance and decreased susceptibility of fungi to commonly used antifungals.

AIM

To analyze drug susceptibility of and strains isolated from the hands of people without any symptoms of disease over a 16-year period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included a total of 1,274 isolated from the hands of people without any symptoms of disease including: in 1999, 432 strains; in 2004, 368; and in 2015, 454 strains. Biological monitoring of hand surface contamination was performed using the Count-Tact applicator with Count-Tact plates (bioMerieux). Drug susceptibility was evaluated using FUNGITEST.

RESULTS

In 1999, the most strains showed resistance to fluconazole (53.2%), in 2004 to itraconazole (52.9%), and in 2015 to fluconazole (85.8%). Resistance to more than one drug was 35.8% in 1999, 64.7% in 2004, and 92% in 2015. Mean resistance to azole antifungals significantly increased from 98 ± 39.7 strains in 1999 to 118.3 ± 29.6 in 2015 ( < 0.001). In 1999, the most strains showed resistance to fluconazole (50.6%), in 2004 to itraconazole (52.9%), and in 2015 to fluconazole (44.9%). Resistance to more than one drug was 52.9% in 1999, 64.3% in 2004, and 88.1% in 2015. Mean resistance to azole antifungals significantly increased from a mean of 76 ± 9.7 strains in 1999, to 95.3 ± 24.2 in 2004, and to 97.3 ± 16.6 in 2015 ( < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We showed increased and strain resistance to commonly used antifungal chemotherapeutics, mainly imidazole. We found a clear rise in susceptibility of and strains to several studied antifungals.