In-vitro antifungal activity of sertaconazole, econazole, and bifonazole against Candida spp.

The in-vitro activity of sertaconazole (7-chloro-3-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl- 1-yl)ethoxy-methyl] benzo[b] thiophene) was compared with that of econazole and bifonazole against 150 strains of yeasts which includes six Candida species. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by a microdilution technique in Sabouraud's liquid medium, (pH 5.6). Sertaconazole (arithmetic mean MIC 0.77 mg/L) was more active than econazole (MIC 1.75 mg/L) and bifonazole (MIC 9.05 mg/L). MIC values for sertaconazole were generally and specifically lower for each tested species, Candida parapsilosis being the most susceptible (MIC 0.31 mg/L), in contrast to Candida tropicalis, which had the highest MIC (1.67 mg/L).