IN-VITRO ACTIVITY OF LITHIUM SUCCINATE AGAINST MALASSEZIA-FURFUR

Objective: The in vitro antifungal activity of lithium succinate has b een evaluated against 46 different Malassezia furfur strains, isolated from patients suffering from dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and pit yriasis versicolor. Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations of lith ium succinate were measured by the agar dilution technique. Results: L ithium succinate was found to be able to inhibit growth of all investi gated M. furfur isolates in vitro but at much higher concentrations th an those which are normally used for susceptibility testing, Minimum i nhibitory concentrations between 1,250 and 10,000 mu g/ml were determi ned. When compared to the 8% lithium succinate ointment, the investiga ted concentrations are even far below this 8% value, Conclusions: It i s suggested that the effect of lithium succinate ointment in seborrhei c dermatitis therapy in vivo may be at least partly due to an antifung al activity of the agent.