IN-VITRO SUSCEPTIBILITY OF TRICHOSPORON BEIGELII TO ANTIFUNGAL AGENTS

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal co ncentrations (MFCs) of amphotericin B, flucytosine, miconazole, flucon azole and itraconazole against 21 isolates of Trichosporon beigelii in RPMI-1640 medium were determined using National Committee for Clinica l Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) methodology in microdilution method. Mo st isolates were sensitive to miconazole (MIC(90) 0.78 mu g/ml), fluco nazole (MIC(90) 6.25 mu g/ml), and itraconazole (MIC(90) 0.19 mu g/ml) , with the former being the most active agent tested (MFC(90) 3.12 mu/ ml). Although amphotericin B inhibited most strains (MIG range, 0.78 - 3.12 mu g/ml), poor fungicidal activity was observed (MFC range, 1.56 - 12.5 mu g/ml) showing a pattern of relative resistance in vitro. Fl ucytosine showed generally poor activity against most isolates tested. These in vitro findings confirm the resistance of T. beigelii to amph otericin B and suggest that azoles may be an alternative to the former for the treatment of disseminated trichosporonosis. However, in vivo studies would better validate these in vitro findings.