ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Fungal infection became more prevalent with the increase of compromised patients, requiring less toxic potent antifungal agents. LY303366, a new semisynthetic antifungal agent of echinocandin class, was reported to be active against Candida spp. and filamentous fungi. METHODS: In vitro activities of LY303366 were determined against clinical isolates of fungi by NCCLS broth microdilution test using RPMI 1640 medium. RESULTS: MIC90s of LY303366 were 0.03 microgram/mL for C. albicans, 2 microgram/mL for C. parapsilosis, 0.12 microgram/mL for C. tropicalis. LY303366 was more active against C. albicans and C. tropicalis than amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, or fluconazole. It was less active than other agents against C. neoformans. MIC range of LY303366 against Aspergillus spp. was 8->16 microgram/mL. CONCLUSION: Very high in vitro activity of LY303366 against recent clinical isolates of Candida spp. including fluconazole resistant ones, suggests its usefulness for the treatment of candidal infections.