In vitro Antifungal Effects of Ketoconazole against Clinical Isolates of Candida from Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Candida spp. plays a major role in vulvovaginal infections. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the second most common genital complaint in women. Around 5% of women, however, develop a chronic or recurrent form of vulvovaginal candidiasis resistant to antifungal treatment. In this study, in vitro activity of Ketoconazole (KTZ) was investigated for 28 Candida strains isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis. Broth dilution method was used for determining the antifungal activity of Ketoconazole. The fungi were cultured on sabouraud dextrose broth in presence of various concentrations of Ketoconazole and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICS) of KTZ were determined. MICS of KTZ were measured in the range of 0.1 – 570 (m g/ ml) for C. albicans isolates, 0.1-570 (m g/ ml) for C. glabrata isolates, 0.1-280 (m g/ ml) for C. tropicalis isolates and 0.1 – 30 (m g/ ml) for C. kefyr, respectively. On the basis of the obtained results, evaluation of antifungal susceptibility for clinical Candida isolates before selection of antifungal drugs and onset of treatment is essential because of the differences observed in species and strain level. This may lead to better treatment and prevention by creating drug – resistant isolates which are non – responsive to routine antifungals.