In vitro activity of antifungal agents against yeast species.

The antimicrobial activity of 8 antifungal agents have been compared in vitro against 151 strains of yeast fungi and 2 of Geotrichum candidum. The drugs were the classical nystatin and amphotericin-B, 5-flucytosine, and 5 imidazoles, clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, and tioconazole. An agar dilution technique with incubation at 37 degrees C was used. By this procedure, econazole was the most active agent per weight basis among those suitable for topical therapy. Tioconazole had a wide spectrum and high activity. Ketoconazole had an antimicrobial activity which makes it an interesting agent considering its applicability in systemic therapy. The activity of 5-flucytosine surpasses that of other systemically applicable agents.