Central European Journal of Biology * E-mail: mstaniszewska@pzh.gov.pl Communication Received 11 March 2010; Accepted 08 June 2010 Keywords: Yeast susceptibility • Antifungal drugs • Disinfectants • Antiseptic • Candida spp. 1 National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland 2 National Medicines Institute, 00-725 Warsaw, Poland 3 Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland Monika Staniszewska 1, *, Beata Rozbicka 1 , Aleksandra Rajnisz 1 , Ewa Bocian 2 , Ewa Wasińska 2 , Bożenna Jakimiak 1 , Ewa Röhm-Rodowald 1 , Wiesław Kurzątkowski 1 , Stefan Tyski 2,3 Susceptibility of Candida spp. clinical isolates to antimycotics and disinfectants Abstract: The incidence of candidiasis among immunocompromised patients and emergence of antimycotics resistant strains has increased significantly. The aims of this study were: to examine the in vitro activity of antimycotics and biocides against Candida clinical isolates; to detect cross-resistance of fungi to these preparations and to estimate whether disinfectants applied in hospital areas are active against clinical Candida isolates. In vitro susceptibility of 102 Candida isolates to eight antimycotics was examined by Etest and ATB Fungus. Sensitivity of these strains to four disinfectants and an antiseptic agent was tested according to EN 1275:2005. Amphotericin B, caspofungin and 5-fluorocytosine were the most effective antimycotics against all Candida isolates. Resistance to itraconazole and fluconazole was observed among C. krusei and C. glabrata. The MICs (Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations) for ketoconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole against Candida albicans ranged: 0.003 - >32 µg/ml and one strain was resistant to three agents tested. All analysed Candida strains were sensitive to biocides containing either chlorine, aldehyde, alcohol mixtures, glucoprotamin or chlorhexidine gluconate with isopropanol. Sensitivity to these agents was observed at concentrations lower than those concentrations recommended by manufacturers to achieve proper biocidal activity to those preparations. Our data suggest that these disinfectants can be effectively applied in clinical wards to prevent nosocomial Candida infections. 1. Introduction In the past few years the incidence of candidiasis, particularly among immunocompromised patients, has increased significantly. Although Candida albicans is still the most common strain resulting in yeast infections, contributing towards both invasive and non-invasive forms of candidiasis, the number of patients infected by C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei has increased in recent years [1-3]. Microorganisms prevalent in the hospital environment can potentially colonise patients and cause infections. Moreover, fungi can persist for extended periods of time on different surfaces, which hospitalised patients and the caregivers are in routine contact with. Consequently this can lead to the spread of nosocomial yeast infections [4]. Controlling the population of such microorganisms in the hospital environment is the most effective way to diminish the prevalence of these infections. Studies testing the susceptibility of Candida spp. strains isolated from different clinical materials to antifungal agents have been published widely [5-13]. However, data concerning the susceptibility of clinical yeast isolates both to antifungal drugs and fungicidal agents used for disinfection and antisepsis procedures are limited. In particular, the efficacy of chemical disinfection procedures toward clinical fungal isolates have rarely been evaluated [14]. Unfortunately, inadequate disinfection programmes implemented in hospitals are still regarded as one of the major factors causing outbreaks of nosocomial infections [15]. To reduce the spread of infection, it is necessary that © Versita Sp. z o.o. 821 Cent. Eur. J. Biol. • 5(6) • 2010 • 821-826 DOI: 10.2478/s11535-010-0068-3