title: In Vitro Antifungal Activities against Moulds Isolated from Dermatological Specimens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of various antifungal agents against moulds isolated from dermatological specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 29 moulds from dermatological specimens between October 2012 and March 2013 by conventional methods. We performed antifungal susceptibility testing on six antifungal agents, amphotericin B, clotrimazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole and terbinafine, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines contained in the M38-A2 document.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most antifungal agents were active against the dermatophytes, except for terbinafine against Trichophyton rubrum (geometric mean MIC, MICGM 3.17 μg/mL). The dematiaceous moulds were relatively susceptible to amphotericin B and azoles (MICGM 0.17-0.34 μg/mL), but not to terbinafine (MICGM 3.62 μg/mL). Septate hyaline moulds showed variable results between the relatively more susceptible Aspergillus spp. (MICGM 0.25-4 μg/mL) and the more resistant Fusarium spp. (MICGM 5.66-32 μg/mL). The zygomycetes were susceptible to amphotericin B (MICGM 0.5 μg/mL) and clotrimazole (MICGM 0.08 μg/mL), but not to other azoles (MICGM 2.52-4 μg/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amphotericin B and clotrimazole were the most effective antifungal agents against all moulds excepting Fusarium spp., while terbinafine was useful against dermatophytes (except T. rubrum) and Aspergillus spp. However, a larger study is required to draw more solid conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tzar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mohd Nizam
authors.affiliation: Programme of Biomedical Science, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rabiatul Adawiyah Ag
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Binting
authors.affiliation: Programme of Biomedical Science, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shafika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohd Saari
authors.affiliation: Programme of Biomedical Science, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Thivyananthini Vijaya
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Marianayati
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hartini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hamidah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yusoff
authors.affiliation: Programme of Biomedical Science, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jacinta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santhanam
keywords: amphotericin B; antifungal; azoles; dermatology; mold; terbinafine