title: Antifungal Activity of Propolis Against Yeasts Isolated From Blood Culture: In Vitro Evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to the failure of available antifungal agents in the treatment of candidemia and the toxic activities of these drugs, a lot of researches are being conducted to develop new nontoxic and effective antifungal agents for optimal control of fungal pathogens. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of propolis against yeasts isolated from the blood cultures of intensive care unit patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six strains were included in this study. The in vitro antifungal activity of propolis, fluconazole (FLU), and itraconazole (ITR) was investigated by the microdilution broth methods (CLSI guidelines M27-A3 for yeast). The propolis sample was collected from Kayseri, Turkey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 76 isolates, 33 were identified as Candida albicans while 37 were C. parapsilosis, three were C. tropicalis, and three were identified as C. glabrata. The geometric mean range for MIC (μg/ml) with regard to all isolates was 0.077 to 3 μg/ml for FLU and ITR, and 0.375 to 0.70 μg/ml for propolis. It was shown that propolis had significant antifungal activity against all Candida strains and the MIC range of propolis was determined as 0185 to 3 μg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that propolis had significant antifungal activity against yeasts isolated from blood culture compared with FLU and ITR. The propolis MIC in azole-resistant strains such as C. glabrata was found lower than the FLU MIC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey. fmutluguzel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mutlu Sariguzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elife
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayes Nedret
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hafize
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sav
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gonca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demir
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000071997:Blood Culture; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole; D015725:Fluconazole; D011429:Propolis
keywords: Candida spp; fluconazole; in vitro antifungal activity; itraconazole; propolis