Background: This study aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs)
of various antifungal agents against moulds isolated from dermatological specimens.
Methods: We identified 29 moulds from dermatological specimens between October 2012
and March 2013 by conventional methods. We performed antifungal susceptibility testing on six
antifungal agents, amphotericin B, clotrimazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole and
terbinafine, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines contained in the
M38-A2 document.
Results: Most antifungal agents were active against the dermatophytes, except for terbinafine
against
Trichophyton rubrum
(geometric mean MIC, MIC
GM 3.17 μg/mL). The dematiaceous
moulds were relatively susceptible to amphotericin B and azoles (MIC
GM 0.17-0.34 μg/mL), but not
to terbinafine (MIC
GM 3.62 μg/mL). Septate hyaline moulds showed variable results between the
relatively more susceptible
Aspergillus
(MIC
GM 0.25-4 μg/mL) and the more resistant
Fusarium
(MIC
GM 5.66-32 μg/mL). The zygomycetes were susceptible to amphotericin B (MIC
GM 0.5 μg/
mL) and clotrimazole (MICGM 0.08 μg/mL), but not to other azoles (MIC
GM 2.52-4 μg/mL).
Conclusion: Amphotericin B and clotrimazole were the most effective antifungal agents
against all moulds excepting
Fusarium spp., while terbinafine was useful against dermatophytes
(except
T. rubrum) and
Aspergillus spp. However, a larger study is required to draw more solid
conclusions.