In vitro activity of posaconazole against clinical isolates of dermatophytes

A broth macrodilution method following the recommendations established by t he National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards was used to compare the in vitro activity of posaconazole (PCZ) with that of itraconazole (ITC ) against 30 clinical isolates of dermatophytes belonging to six different species. In terms of MICs, PCZ showed an activity equal to that of ITC. MIC s of PCZ at which 50% (MIC50) and 90% (MIC90) of the isolates were inhibite d were 0.5 and >4.0 mug/ml, respectively. The MIC50 and MIC90 of ITC were 1 .0 and >4.0 mug/ml, respectively. However, PCZ showed a more potent fungici dal activity than that of ITC against isolates belonging to the genus Micro sporum (P = 0.03). PCZ merits further investigation as a potentially useful agent for treatment of dermatophytosis.