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Impact of pH on the antifungal susceptibility of vaginal Candida albicans
Author(s) -
Liu Wei,
Zhang Xu,
Liu Zhaohui,
Luo Xin
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.03.016
Subject(s) - medicine , candida albicans , antifungal , microbiology and biotechnology , vaginal infections , obstetrics , dermatology , biology
Objective To investigate the antifungal susceptibility at pH 7.0 and pH 4.0 of 5 antifungal agents against Candida albicans isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis. Methods Antifungal susceptibility testing at pH 7.0 and pH 4.0 was performed using the broth microdilution method (CLSI, document M27‐A2). Results The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of miconazole, clotrimazole, fluconazole, and nystatin against C. albicans at pH 4.0 were significantly higher than those at pH 7.0 (0.25 vs 0.03 μg/mL, 0.50 vs 0.03 μg/mL, 0.50 vs 0.25 μg/mL, and 32 vs 2 μg/mL, respectively; P < 0.001), whereas the MIC of itraconazole at pH 4.0 was lower than that at pH 7.0 (0.030 vs 0.125 μg/mL; P < 0.001). The susceptibility rate of C. albicans to itraconazole at pH 4.0 was significantly higher than at pH 7.0 (95.0% vs 51.7%; P < 0.001). The susceptibility rate to itraconazole at pH 7.0 was significantly lower than the susceptibility rate to fluconazole (51.7% vs 100.0%; P < 0.001), whereas the susceptibility rates to the 2 drugs were similar at pH 4.0 (95.0% and 96.7%, respectively). Conclusion Media at different pH values should be used for sensitivity tests according to the environment of C. albicans .