Comparative study of the activity and lingering effect of topical antifungals

We present a combined method of culturing pathogenic dermatophytes and yeasts on human stratum corneum. Topical marketed antifungals are applied in vivo, and the stratum corneum is removed by cyanoacrylate skin surface strippings. After inoculation of the test organism, the extent of fungal growth is measured, indicating by comparison with controls the level of inhibitory effect of the antifungal. Other samples of stratum corneum collected at different time intervals after the arrest of antimicrobial treatment are used to evaluate the lingering effect of the drug. The combination of the data gained by these approaches close to the in vivo situation is used to introduce a classification of antifungals.