ABSTRACT
Objective The use of the antifungal agent itraconazole and the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus alone, together with the above two drugs, was evaluated in vitro for growth of Candida krusei. Whether or not the combina-tion is more effective than the antifungal alone can inhibit the growth of Candida krusei. Methods According to the guidelines of the American Institute of Clinical and Laboratory Standards, 12 Candida krusei strains were divided into blank control group, itraconazole group, tacrolimus group, and combination group by microdilution method, and then 12 the Candida krusei strain was incubated for 24 h and its growth was observed. Results In comparison with the alone use of isotriconazole in Candida krusei, the combined use of itraconazole,its minimal inhibitory con-centration was much less than that of alone, with a maximum multiple of 32 fold, a minimum multiple up to 4 times; the same, In comparison with the alone use of tacrolimus in Candida krusei, the combined use of tacroli-mus, its maximum multiple of 32 times, the lowest multiple of 2 times. Conclusion The combined use of itracon-azole and tacrolimus in 12 strains of Candida krusei displayed a powerful synergistic effect in vitro.