In vitro interactions between amphotericin B and other antifungal agents and rifampin against Fusarium spp.
Fusarium species are common hyaline soil saprophytes and plant pathogens that are opportunistic fungal pathogens of immunocompromised patients. The treatment for fusariosis remains uncertain with an unfavourable prognosis; new possibilities for treatment, such as various synergistic drug interactions, must be uncovered. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro interactions of amphotericin B with caspofungin, ketoconazole, 5-flucytosine, itraconazole, miconazole, rifampin, fluconazole, terbinafine and voriconazole against isolates of Fusarium spp. using the chequerboard method with interactions evaluated by fractional inhibitory concentration indices. The highest percentages of synergistic interactions were observed for the combinations of amphotericin B and caspofungin (68.7%), amphotericin B and rifampin (68.7%), amphotericin B plus 5-flucytosine (59.3%) and amphotericin B with voriconazole (37.5%). The pattern of susceptibility to antifungal agents among Fusarium species and their consequence on the effects of drug combinations are also discussed.
Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
T B
TB
Spader
T P
TP
Venturini
A S
AS
Cavalheiro
C D
CD
Mahl
D N
DN
Mario
V M
VM
Lara
J
J
Santurio
S H
SH
Alves
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D012293:Rifampin