Voriconazole inhibits biofilm formation in different species of the genus Candida.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the ability of voriconazole to inhibit the formation of biofilms.


METHODS
A total of 38 blood isolates of Candida spp. (8 Candida albicans, 10 Candida tropicalis, 10 Candida glabrata, 7 Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto and 3 Candida orthopsilosis) and C. albicans ATCC 90028 and ATCC 64548 were assessed. Biofilm formation was quantified using XTT reduction assays. The inhibition of biofilm formation was determined (i) in the presence of 0.06 and 0.25 mg/L voriconazole, and (ii) on surfaces previously coated with 0.06, 0.25, 1, 4 and 16 mg/L voriconazole.


RESULTS
Voriconazole reduced biofilm formation under both conditions, the extent depending on the species, isolate and drug concentration. In the presence of 0.25 mg/L, the highest reduction was found for C. parapsilosis (79% ± 8.6%), followed by C. albicans (64.5% ± 6.3%), C. tropicalis (53.3% ± 13.1%) and C. glabrata (23.8% ± 11.2%). This reduction was significant (P < 0.05) for all isolates tested. After coating the wells with voriconazole, biofilm formation was reduced in all Candida spp. examined, C. albicans being the species with the highest reduction (68.8% with 16 mg/L) and C. parapsilosis complex and C. glabrata the lowest.


CONCLUSIONS
As voriconazole reduces biofilm formation it may be a good candidate for the prevention of Candida biofilm-related infections although further studies using voriconazole-impregnated catheter tubing or prostheses are required to confirm these results.
Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Valencia, Spain. valentin_amp@gva.es
A
A
Valentín
E
E
Cantón
J
J
Pemán
J P
JP
Martínez
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D065819:Voriconazole
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D014230:Triazoles; C059087:2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-((phenylamino)carbonyl)-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide; D065819:Voriconazole