THE EFFICACY OF ANTIFUNGAL AGENTS INCORPORATED INTO A FACIAL PROSTHETIC SILICONE ELASTOMER

Microbiologic isolation techniques and scanning electron microscopy we re used to determine whether a fungus is associated with the black dis coloration of some silicone nasal prostheses. Colonies of fungal growt h were seen on scanning electron micrographs of the affected areas of a nasal prosthesis, and a fungus belonging to the genus Penicillium wa s isolated from similar areas. Disk diffusion tests determined that th e antifungal agent clotrimazole, when incorporated into silicone sampl es, was effective in inhibiting in vitro growth of the fungus.