Further in vitro studies with oxiconazole nitrate

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Antimicrobial Agents

Background:

• Dermatophytes, Malassezia furfur, and Exophiala werneckii are common fungal pathogens.
• Azole antifungals are widely used for treating fungal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the in vitro antifungal activity of oxiconazole nitrate, ketoconazole, and econazole nitrate.
• To evaluate the efficacy of these antifungals against various dermatophyte species, Malassezia furfur, and Exophiala werneckii.

Main Methods:

• Agar dilution method was employed.
• Kimmig's agar or Sabouraud's dextrose agar supplemented with specific additives were used.
• Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) values were determined for each compound against the tested fungal isolates.

Main Results:

• Econazole demonstrated greater activity against Microsporum and most Trichophyton species.
• Oxiconazole showed higher activity against T. tonsurans and T. rubrum, with only marginal differences compared to econazole.
• Ketoconazole was most potent against M. furfur, and cross-resistance between oxiconazole and econazole was observed in some M. furfur isolates.
• All three agents were effective against E. werneckii, and Epidermophyton floccosum was highly susceptible to all tested compounds.

Conclusions:

• Oxiconazole, ketoconazole, and econazole exhibit significant in vitro antifungal activity.
• The choice of antifungal may depend on the specific fungal species and potential resistance patterns.
• Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm these in vitro findings.