In vitro susceptibility testing of amorolfine in pathogenic fungi isolated from dermatomycosis patients in China.

The antifungal susceptibility of isolates from Chinese dermatomycosis patients to amorolfine was investigated following National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) protocols. In total, 383 isolates were tested, including 132 strains from tinea pedis, 148 strains from tinea corporis/cruris, and 103 strains from onychomycosis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amorolfine against dermatophytes ranged from 0.01 to 0.08 microg ml(-1). The MIC(50) and MIC(90) of amorolfine for Trichophyton rubrum were both equal to 0.04 micro ml(-1); for T. mentagrophytes these MICs were 0.04 microg ml(-1) and 0.08 microg ml(-1) respectively; and for Epidermophyton floccosum they were 0.02 microg ml(-1) and 0.04 microg ml(-1) respectively. The MIC range of amorolfine against Candida parapsilosis was 0.5-16 microg ml(-1). MIC(50) and MIC(90) for C. parapsilosis were 0.5 and 2 microg ml(-1). MIC ranges of amorolfine against Scopulariopsis spp. and Acremonium spp. were 0.5-4 and 2-8 microg ml(-1), respectively. Candida albicans, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus flavus required relatively higher concentrations of amorolfine to inhibit their growth (MIC 0.125-64 microg ml(-1), MIC(50) and MIC(90) were 4 and 64 microg ml(-1)). The results demonstrated that amorolfine is the only topical agent that has such a potent antifungal activity and a broad spectrum against a wide range of pathogenic fungi.