Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 57, 113-115, 2004

To see a printable version of the article in the Adobe file format, click this [PDF] link.

Short Communication

Serotypes of Clinical Cerebrospinal Fluid Cryptococcus neoformans Isolates from Southern Taiwan and Their In Vitro Susceptibilities to Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, and Voriconazole

Wen-Neng Chang, Chi-Ren Huang, Chien-Bang Lei¹, Ping-Yu Lee¹, Chun-Chih Chien², Hsueh-Wen Chang³, Chen-Sheng Chang⁴ and Cheng-Hsien Lu*

Department of Neurology, ¹Department of Pharmacy and ²Department of Clinical Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, ³Department of Biology, National Sun Yat-Sen University and ⁴Department of Neurology, I-Shou University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

(Received January 29, 2004. Accepted March 10, 2004)

*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan. Tel: +886-7-7317123 ext. 2283, Fax: +886-7-7333816, E-mail: cwenneng@ms19.hinet.net

SUMMARY: In this study, 34 clinical cerebrospinal fluid isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans were serotyped, and their in vitro susceptibilities to amphotericin B, fluconazole, and voriconazole were analyzed. Of these 34 isolates, serotype A was found in 29 isolates and serotype B in the other five. The voriconazole geometric mean MIC was significantly lower than the amphotericin B/antibiotic medium 3 geometric mean MIC (P < 0.0001 at both 48 and 72 h), as well as the fluconazole geometric mean MIC (P < 0.0001 at both 48 and 72 h). Of the three antifungal agents, only fluconazole, with geometric mean MICs at both 48 and 72 h, showed significant difference between the serotypes A and B of C. neoformans.

Go to JJID Homepage            Go to JJID 57 (3) Contents