IN-VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF SERTACONAZOLE, ECONAZOLE, AND BIFONAZOLE AGAINST CANDIDA SPP

The in-vitro activity of sertaconazole chloro-3-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl -1-yl)ethoxymethyl] benzo[b] thiophene) was compared with that of econ azole and bifonazole against 150 strains of yeasts which includes six Candida species. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determi ned by a microdilution technique in Sabouraud's liquid medium, (pH 5.6 ). Sertaconazole (arithmetic mean MIC 0.77 mg/L) was more active than econazole (MIG 1.75 mg/L) and bifonazole (MIG 9.05 mg/L). MIC values f or sertaconazole were generally and specifically lower for each tested species, Candida parapsilosis being the most susceptible (MIG 0.31 mg /L), in contrast to Candida tropicalis, which had the highest MIC (1.6 7 mg/L).