In vitro antifungal activities of and fluconazole against pathogenic species.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

species constitute an important group of opportunistic fungi, which cause various clinical diseases. Considering the resistance of some species to conventional antifungal agents, treatment of such cases may be challenging and complicated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the antifungal activities of latex and fluconazole against different species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 150 isolates including (n=77), 28), (n=23), (n=15), (n=4), (n=1), (n=1) and (n=1) were included in this study. In vitro antifungal activities of latex and fluconazole against these species were evaluated, according to M27-A2 protocol on broth macrodilution method by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

RESULTS

Among 150 isolates, 98 isolates (65.33%), i.e., . (n=41), (n=23), (n=12) and (n=22) with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≤ 8 μg/ml were susceptible to fluconazole. Resistance to fluconazole was noted in 15 isolates, i.e., (n=10), (n=2), (n=1), (n=1), and (n=1), with MICs of 64 µg/ml. The remaining isolates (n=37) including (n=26), (n=3), (n=3), (n=1), (n=3) and (n=1) with MIC= 16-32 µg/ml showed dose-dependent susceptibility. The latex of was able to inhibit the growth of 30 out of 150 tested isolates with MIC range of 128-512 µg/ml. These isolates were as follows: (n=2), (n=4), (n=19), (n=2) and (n=3). Compared to other isolates, higher MIC values were noted for and (512 µg/ml), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The latex of showed notable antifungal activities against some pathogenic species. Therefore, it can be potentially used as an alternative antifungal agent in future. However, further research is required to identify its active components.