Susceptibility of clinical isolates of Fusarium to antifungal drugs.

The inhibitory activities of amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, miconazole, ketoconazole and terbinafine against nine isolates from clinically apparent infections of Fusarium solani, four isolates of Fusarium moniliforme and 10 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum were determined with an agar diffusion method (Neosensitabs) and an agar dilution method. The inhibition zones obtained with antifungal Neosensitabs need very careful interpretation. We did not find a good correlation between the agar diffusion method using Neo-sensitabs preloaded with azoles and amphotericin B and the agar dilution method. Amphotericin B (12/23) and terbinafine (18/23) showed good activity. Miconazole (7/23) and ketoconazole (3/23) had poor inhibitory activity. Fluconazole and itraconazole (0/23) had no in vitro activity against any of the isolates tested.