Antifungal susceptibility testing of yeast isolated from corneal infections

PURPOSE: To report the antifungal susceptibility profile of yeast isolates obtained from cases of keratitis. METHODS: Susceptibility testing of 15 yeast strains isolated from corneal infections to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole was performed using the NCCLS broth microdilution assay. RESULTS: Most episodes of eye infections were caused by Candida albicans. The antifungal drugs tested showed the following minimal inhibitory concentration values against yeast isolates: 0.125-0.5 µg/ml for amphotericin B; 0.125->64.0 µg/ml for fluconazole; 0.015-1.0 µg/ml for itraconazole and 0.015-0.125 µg/ml for ketoconazole. Despite the fact that all Candida isolates were judged to be susceptible to azoles, one isolate showed a minimal inhibitory concentration value significantly higher than a 90 percent minimal inhibitory concentration of all tested isolates. Rhodotorula rubra was resistant to fluconazole and itraconazole. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that most yeast isolates from corneal infections are usually susceptible to amphotericin B and azoles, they exhibit a wide range of minimal inhibitory concentration values for antifungal drugs. The identification of strains at species level and their susceptibility pattern to antifungal drugs should be considered before determining the concentration to be used in topical antifungal formulations in order to optimize therapeutic response in eye infections.

Atividade antifúngica de extratos obtidos de espécies de leguminoseae contra dermatófitos / Antifungal activities of extracts obtained leguminoseae species against dermatophytes

As dermatofitoses são doenças que se localizam na pele, pêlos e unhas, produzidas por fungos dos gêneros Trichophyton, Microsporum e Epidermophyton. O tratamento deste grupo de doenças é feito com os antifúngicos convencionais ou os derivados imidazólicos. No Nordeste do Brasil, as plantas medicinais são frequentemente usadas pela população para o tratamento de doenças infecciosas da pele. Neste trabalho, foi feito a avaliação das propriedades antifúngicas do extrato de plantas usadas na medicinapopular.Extratos de Amburana cearensis, Anadenantheramacrocarpa, Bowdichia virgilioides,Caesalpinia ferrea,Mimosa tenviflora e Pithecelobiumcocliocarpum,contra T.rubrum,T.mentagrophytes,M.canis e E.floccosum,isolados de pacientes portadores de dermatofitoses.A técnica de difusão em agar, processo cavidade-placa, foi usado para testar a atividade antifúngica dos extratos, e incubação foi a 28-30 Graus C durante 10-14 dias. Os extratos estudados mostratam efeitos antifúngicos in vitro até a concentração de 1.250 mg/ml