ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING OF YEAST ISOLATES FROM BLOOD CULTURES BY MICROBROTH DILUTION AND THE E-TEST

The results of microbroth dilution were compared with those of the E t est for 169 yeast isolates tested for their susceptibility to antifung al agents. All isolates were tested by both methods against amphoteric in B, ketoconazole, fluconazole, and itraconazole. The E test results generally correlated well with those obtained by the reference method. There was at least 80% agreement of minimum inhibitory concentration results within two dilutions for all yeast species and agents tested, except for Cryptococcus neoformans tested with fluconazole (8% agreeme nt). The E test appears to be a suitable alternative antifungal suscep tibility test method for yeasts, although improvements are required fo r testing Cryptococcus neoformans against fluconazole.