Contact imidazole activity against resistant bacteria and fungi.

The activities of miconazole and miconazole sulphosalicylate were evaluated by a contact test using strains of Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli and Candida spp selected for their resistance. The results showed that killing of the organisms occurred within a few minutes. Imidazole activity required a medium of low electrical conductivity and a pH of 5.6. Greater sensitivity could be obtained with pretreatment of the microbial suspensions with sodium dioctylsulphosuccinate. Microorganisms tested in culture media with low electrical conductivity and at pH 5.6 showed enhanced sensitivity to azoles with MIC values about 20-30 times lower than those obtained using control media. Practical implications of the use of topical drugs are discussed.