title: Evaluation of the disk-diffusion method to determine the in vitro efficacy of terbinafine against subcutaneous and superficial mycoses agents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superficial and subcutaneous mycoses have a high prevalence and, often, chronic evolution. Therefore, they need extensive treatment with topic and/or systemic antifungal agents. Azoles and alilamines (terbinafine) are first-choice drugs to treat human and animal infections. Thus, evaluation of the efficacy of these drugs is important for a successful treatment. However, there are few studies that evaluate the in vitro activity of antifungal agents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the in vitro efficacy of terbinafine activity against filamentous fungi and yeasts that cause mycoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The in vitro activity of terbinafine (0.125-100microg) against 10 fungi species was evaluated by the diskdiffusion and microdilution/reference methods to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a high susceptibility to terbinafine in: T. rubrum, M. gypseum, T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans, M. canis, C. carrionii and E. floccosum (halo > or = 40mm with 0.125microg disk). S. hyalinum and C. parapsilosis were considered susceptible, but less than the others. Fusarium spp. showed the lowest susceptibility (halo=12mm with 2microg disk; MIC 8microg/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this research confirm previous findings about the efficacy of terbinafine. The drug was shown to be highly effective to treat dermatophyte infections. The disk-diffusion method was easy to use and is a suitable technique for routine use in clinical laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Complexo Hospitalar Padre Bento de Guarulhos, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. hilpexe@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Hilda Conceição
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Diogo
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melhem
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarpieri
authors.forename: Mario Cezar
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pires
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000382:microbiology; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077291:Terbinafine
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000077291:Terbinafine