COMBINED EFFECT OF AMPHOTERICIN-B AND FLUCYTOSINE ON HYPHAL GROWTH OFCANDIDA-ALBICANS ESTIMATED AT A SINGLE HYPHA LEVEL

The in vitro efficacy of amphotericin B and flucytosine, separately an d in combination, against the hyphal growth of Candida albicans was ev aluated in situ using an automatic analysing system. A colony of C. al bicans was in contact with a glucose-salt medium supplemented with bio tin plus calf serum (GS medium) and GS medium containing the antifunga l agent, in sequence. Minimum inhibitory concentrations at single hyph al level (S-MIC) were determined based on the response that was measur ed. Amphotericin B S-MICs ranged from 0.8 to 0.4 mu g ml(-1), and S-MI C values > 102.4 mu g ml(-1) were obtained with flucytosine when the t wo agents were used independently. When the two agents were used in co mbination, however, a synergistic interaction between the two agents a t concentrations below their individual S-MICs was observed.