In vitro activities of fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole against otomycotic fungal pathogens

To determine the causative pathogens of otomycosis, and to evaluate the in vitro activity of antifungal agents against these pathogens. A total of 96 fungal isolate were taken from 92 patients suspected of otomycosis. The in vitro activity of fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole against otomycotic pathogens was tested using the E-test method. The most common pathogen was Aspergillus fumigatus (40.6 per cent), followed by A niger (35.4 per cent), A flavus (12.5 per cent) and Candida albicans (11.5 per cent). All Aspergillus species were found to be resistant to fluconazole (minimum inhibitory concentration > or =256 microg/ml). The mean minimum inhibitory concentrations of voriconazole for A fumigatus, A niger, A flavus and C albicans were significantly lower than those of itraconazole for the same pathogens. This study found that the most common otomycotic fungal pathogen was A fumigatus, and that voriconazole had more potent in vitro activity than itraconazole against all Aspergillus species as well as against C albicans.