The impact of respiratory tract mimicking media on antifungal susceptibility testing

The rise in antifungal resistance and changing epidemiology underscores the need to improve antifungal susceptibility testing. This study tested the standard medium RPMI₁₆₄₀ and healthy lung and sinus media against Aspergillus, Mucor, and Candida species. Candida showed greater variability in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) compared with molds, with higher MICs in respiratory tract-mimicking media than in RPMI₁₆₄₀. Aspergillus terreus was the most affected mold, showing higher MICs for certain antifungals in these media.