Double-blind comparison of the efficacy, toleration and safety of tioconazole base 1% and econazole nitrate 1% creams in the treatment of patients with fungal infections of the skin or erythrasma.

A total of 61 patients with proven fungal infection of the skin or with erythrasma took part in a double-blind comparison of the efficacy, toleration and safety of tioconazole base 1% w/w and econazole nitrate 1% creams applied twice daily. Some patients had more than one site of infection and some were infected with more than one fungal/bacterial species. The mean duration of treatment in the tioconazole group of patients was 40 days (range: 12-68) and in the econazole group 38 days (range: 17-101). Clinical and mycologic cure was achieved in 27 of 29 (93.1%) tioconazole-treated and 29 of 31 (93.5%) econazole-treated patients. All but 1 of the cured patients in each treatment group were seen some 6 weeks after the end of treatment; all remained clinically and mycologically cured. Both creams were found to be generally acceptable in terms of ease of application. Some staining was reported in both treatment groups. One side effect of mild intermittent pruritus was reported in an econazole-treated patient. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined.