COMPARISON OF IN-VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF FREE AND LIPOSOME-ENCAPSULATED NYSTATIN WITH THOSE OF 4 AMPHOTERICIN-B FORMULATIONS

The in vitro activity of a multilamellar liposomal formulation of nyst atin (Nyotran) was compared with those of free nystatin and four pharm aceutical preparations of amphotericin B. MICs for 200 isolates of two Aspergillus spp,, seven Candida spp., and Cryptococcus neoformans wer e determined by a broth microdilution adaptation of the method recomme nded by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Mini mum lethal concentrations (MLCs) of the six antifungal preparations we re also determined, Both nystatin formulations possessed fungistatic a nd fungicidal activities against the 10 species tested. Liposomal nyst atin appeared to be as active as free nystatin, with MICs and MLCs tha t were similar to, or lower than, those of the latter, Neither formula tion of nystatin was as active as amphotericin B deoxycholate (Fungizo ne) or amphotericin B lipid complex (Abelcet), but both were more effe ctive than liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome). Our results suggest th at further evaluation of liposomal nystatin is justified.