In vitro antifungal activity of topical and systemic antifungal drugs against Malassezia species

CARRILLO-MUÑOZ AJ; ROJAS F; TUR-TUR C; SOSA MA; ORTIZ DIEZ O; MARTIN ESPADA C; PAYÁ MJ; GIUSIANO G

MYCOSES

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2013 vol. 56 p. 571 - 575

0933-7407

Background: The strict nutritional requirements of Malassezia species makes it difficult to test the antifungal susceptibility. Treatments of the chronic and recurrent infections associated with Malassezia spp. are usually ineffective. Objective: To obtain in vitro susceptibility profile of 76 clinical isolates of Malassezia species against 16 antifungal drugs used for topical or systemic treatment. Methods: Isolates were identified by RFLP. MIC was obtained by a modified microdilution method based on the CLSI reference document M27-A3. Results: The modifications allowed a good growth of all tested species. High in vitro antifungal activity of most tested drugs was observed, especially triazole derivatives, except for fluconazole which presented the highest MICs and widest range of concentrations. Ketoconazole and itraconazole demonstrated a great activity. Higher MICs values were obtained with M. furfur indicating a low susceptibility to most of the antifungal agents tested. M. sympodialis and M. pachydermatis were found to be more-susceptible species than M. furfur, M. globosa, M. slooffiae and M. restricta. Topical substances were also active but provide higher MICs than the compounds for systemic use. Conclusion: The differences observed in the antifungals activity and interspecies variability, demonstrated the importance to studying the susceptibility profile of each species in order to obtain reliable information for defining an effective treatment regimen.