ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF KETOCONAZOLE AND OTHER AZOLES AGAINST MALASSEZIA-FURFUR IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO

The in vitro activity of several antifungal agents (ketoconazole, mico nazole, econazole, fenticonazole, itraconazole, fluconazole) in routin e clinical use against Malasezia furfur infections has been studied,vi th freshly isolated strains of M. furfur from pityriasis versicolor le sions. The results indicate that the drugs tested exert a good activit y and both ketoconazole and itraconazole appear very active (0.8 mg/l respectively), Hair samples from the beards of volunteer patients affe cted by pityriasis versicolor but otherwise healthy were examined to d etermine ketoconazole levels during oral therapy (one or two 200 mg ta blets daily), It was shown that the drug progressively accumulates in the beard, reaching levels proportional to the dose administered, alth ough blood levels did not increase in parallel. The study of drug conc entration profile has evidenced a long ketoconazole persistence in the beard at therapeutic levels, In conclusion, the possibility of reachi ng high and lasting ketoconazole levels in the keratin layer of the ep idermis indicates that systemic ketoconazole therapy could be useful f or eradication of ICI, fufur in patients affected by pitpriasis versic olor.