[Assessment of the sensitivity to antifungal agents of clinical isolates of Candida albicans serotype A and B by the ATB Fungus method].

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans is the most frequently species isolated in patients with candidiasis. This species may be antigenically divided in serotypes A and B, which have a different pathogenic behavior and antifungal susceptibility pattern. METHODS: The antifungal susceptibility of 443 clinical isolates from both serotypes of C. albicans to 5-fluorocytosine (5FC), amphotericin B, nystatin, econazole, miconazole and ketoconazole has been tested by means of the ATB Fungus method. RESULTS: Both serotypes showed a similar in vitro susceptibility to amphotericin B, nystatin, econazole, miconazole and ketoconazole. All the isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B and nystatin. A small number of in vitro resistant isolates were observed to azole compounds. However, serotype B was significantly more resistant than serotype A (p = 0.0001) to 5FC. CONCLUSIONS: C. albicans serotype B shows a lower susceptibility than serotype A to 5FC, an antifungal product not marketed in Spain. Serotyping of C. albicans does not offer additional information on antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates from this species.