Susceptibility of Mexican isolates of yeasts and moulds to amphotericin B and triazole antifungals.
BACKGROUND
Resistance to antifungal drugs, especially towards triazoles, is commonly referred to by clinicians, but data on its prevalence in developing countries is limited.


METHODS
To determine the prevalence of triazole-resistance amongst pathogenic yeasts and moulds, we assessed the in vitro susceptibility of 250 isolates from hospitalized patients at five Mexican cities towards amphotericin B, fluconazole and voriconazole, by E-test.


RESULTS
All yeasts were susceptible to voriconazole, according to E-test interpretive criteria (MIC < or = 1 microg/mL), and all filamentous or dimorphic fungi also had voriconazole MIC < or = 1 microg/mL, except for one isolate each of Mucor sp. and Acremonium sp. Candida krusei and one isolate of C. glabrata were resistant to fluconazole, a drug that had MIC > or = 192 microg/mL for filamentous fungi. Although no breakpoints for amphotericin B are available, all three C. krusei, 2/25 C. glabrata, 3/22 C. parapsilosis and 1/108 C. albicans had MIC > or = 2 microg/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro, voriconazole is active against yeasts and moulds commonly causing severe mycoses in Mexico.
Arredondo-García
José Luis
JL
Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City, Mexico.
Amábile-Cuevas
Carlos F
CF
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002947:Cities; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014505:Urban Population
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D014230:Triazoles; D000666:Amphotericin B