Microbiological characteristics and susceptibility patterns of strains of rhodotorula isolated from clinical samples

The members of the genus Rhodotorula show a marked ubiquity. In man, they h ave been isolated from faeces, nails, skin, sputum, digestive tract and ade noids, forming part of the normal human flora, although in recent years cas es have been reported of both local and systemic infection by this yeast. T here are virtually no studies in the literature on the sensitivity of this genus to the antifungal agents in common clinical use. Therefore, it is con sidered of interest to study the microbiological characteristics and the su sceptibility patterns of Rhodotorula isolated from clinical samples. A tota l of 35 different strains of Rhodotorula were studied. In vitro susceptibil ity testing to 5-fluorocytosine, amphotericin B, ketoconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole was performed. All the strains were considered sensitive t o 5-fluorocytosine, amphotericin B, ketoconazole and itraconazole and resis tant to fluconazole. As a conclusion, we can state that all the antifungal agents tested, except fluconazole, are useful medicaments for the treatment of infections by the Rhodotorula genus.