Comparison of Etest with the broth microdilution method in susceptibility testing of yeast isolates against four antifungals

A comparative evaluation of the Etest and the broth microdilution methods f or antifungal susceptibility testing of 102 clinical yeast isolates against amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole was conducted. The agreements between the Etest and the broth microdilution methods were 93.1% for amphotericin B 85.2% for ketoconazole, 82.3% for itraconazole and 79.4% for fluconazole. These results suggest that the Etest approach to an tifungal susceptibility testing may be a viable alternative to the NCCLS re ference methods for testing yeasts, but that further evaluations are needed .