Enhanced fungicidal activity of N-chlorotaurine in nasal secretion

The antifungal activity of N-chlorotaurine (NCT), a long-lived oxidant prod uced by stimulated human leucocytes, was investigated. Incubation of Asperg illus spp., Candida spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp. and Alternaria sp p. in 1% NCT (55 mM) for 1-4 h produced a log(10) reduction in cfu of betwe en 1 and 4. In samples of nasal secretion, killing was significantly hasten ed (30 min), which may be explained by the formation of monochloramine by h alogenation of ammonium, which was found at a concentration of 1 mM in thes e samples. For these reasons, NCT is of interest as a new agent for treatme nt of local inflammatory mycosis, e.g. eosinophilic fungal rhinosinusitis.