EVALUATION OF THE E-TEST FOR FLUCONAZOLE SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS ISOLATES FROM OROPHARYNGEAL CANDIDIASIS

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of the E test in determining the antifungal susceptibility of Candida albicans, Rep roducibility of the E test was determined for amphotericin B, fluconaz ole, and itraconazole using three different solid media: RPMI 1640, Ca sitone, and yeast nitrogen base agar, Minimum inhibitory concentration s (MICs) were comparable (results at +/-2 dilutions) in 92% of the tes ts for amphotericin B and in 100% for fluconazole and itraconazole, De termination of MIC endpoints was easiest on Casitone agar, Candida alb icans isolates from 23 patients undergoing fluconazole therapy for oro pharyngeal candidiasis were tested for fluconazole susceptibility, Goo d correlation was obtained between the MICs of fluconazole and clinica l outcome, Clinical failure was associated with strains for which MICs were greater than or equal to 48 mu g/ml. These results suggest that the E test has potential utility for fluconazole susceptibility testin g of clinical yeast isolates.