Susceptibility of environmental versus clinical strains of pathogenic Aspergillus.
The objective of this study was to compare the antifungal susceptibility profiles of 307 environmental strains and 139 clinical isolates of Aspergillus belonging to six different species. Clinical and environmental strains with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) or minimal effective concentrations >or=4microg/mL to amphotericin B (AMB), itraconazole (ITC), voriconazole and caspofungin were seldom detected. However, the susceptibility profile of environmental Aspergillus non-fumigatus strains suggests a native reduced susceptibility of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus terreus to AMB. A single environmental strain of Aspergillus nidulans showed high in vitro resistance (MIC>or=16 microg/mL) to ITC. Aspergillus niger showed significantly higher MIC values to ITC compared with the other Aspergillus spp. Conversely, A. fumigatus and Aspergillus glaucus showed higher susceptible profiles to the antifungals. Definition of the breakpoints for the antifungal agents remains urgent. The relationship between the susceptibility pattern and the pathogenic potential also deserves more attention, particularly with regard to non-fumigatus species.
Araujo
Ricardo
R
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernani Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal. ricjparaujo@yahoo.com
Pina-Vaz
Cidalia
C
Rodrigues
Acacio Gonçalves
AG
D000391:Air Microbiology; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000382:microbiology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000077336:Caspofungin; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D054714:Echinocandins; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D065819:Voriconazole; D014871:Water Microbiology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D017964:Itraconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B; D000077336:Caspofungin; D065819:Voriconazole