Multicenter comparison of Fungitest for susceptibility testing of Candida species.
In four laboratories the reproducibility of Fungitest, a colorimetric breakpoint method for antifungal susceptibility testing, was examined. The interlaboratory agreement of test results from 50 Candida strains was dependent on the antifungal agents and ranged from 56% to 100%. Itraconazole showed the poorest, amphotericin B and flucytosine (100% and 96%, respectively) the highest concordance. When minor discrepancies were disregarded the agreement increased to 94% to 100% for all agents. In total, major discrepancies were only seen in 2.7%. The overall agreement between concordant results and the NCCLS standard method was high, ranging between 96.4% and 100%. Generally, sensitive strains showed a better agreement with Fungitest. Since the concordance in multisite studies with Fungitest will always depend on the isolates chosen, further studies with this test are necessary.
Willinger
Birgit
B
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. birgit.willinger@akh-wien.ac.at
Engelmann
Elisabeth
E
Hofmann
Heidelore
H
Metzger
Silke
S
Apfalter
Petra
P
Hirschl
Alexander M
AM
Makristathis
Athanasios
A
Rotter
Manfred
M
Raddatz
Birgid
B
Seibold
Michael
M
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic