Influence of voriconazole and fluconazole on Candida albicans in long-time continuous flow culture

We investigated the influence of voriconazole and fluconazole in a long term trial of continuous flow culture (cfc) up to 9 days. The effects of these azoles were different in dependence on the growth circumstances. Under anaerobic conditions a fungicidal effect of voriconazole was detectable, defined by an inhibition of 99.9%. This also applied to fluconazole for the majority of tested strains of C. albicans. Under aerobic conditions with an otherwise similar situation we found only a fungistatic reaction (inhibition of 90%). Fluorescence microscopy comparing fungal morphology in biofilms on glass surfaces in the cfc revealed a differentiation into blastospores, germ tubes, pseudomycelia and mycelia in the control trial after a cultivation of 8 days. Under anaerobic conditions with azoles only some single cells could be found, sometimes in cell detritus. The adhesion was clearly reduced. Under aerobic conditions more blastospores but no differentiated mycelia were to be seen.