Abstract
Purpose:
To compare
in vitro
susceptibility of amphotericin B (AMB) and amphotericin B methyl ester (AME) (a more soluble and less toxic formulation of AMB) against
Candida albicans
isolates recovered from human cases of endophthalmitis.
Methods:
The
in vitro
susceptibility of AMB and AME was determined for
C. albicans
isolates recovered from endophthalmitis (
N
=10) and for
C. albicans
ATCC reference strain 90028 using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M27-A2 (NCCLS/CLSI) broth dilution method. All isolates were obtained from samples of vitreous humor of patients with suspected endophthalmitis within the last 5 years at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (Miami, FL).
Results:
The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AME were equal to or lower than values for AMB in 7 of the 10 isolates; range: AME (0.125–1 μg/mL) versus (0.5–1 μg/mL) for AMB. The MIC
90
value of both drugs was equal (1 μg/mL). Compared with AMB, the minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of AME were equal to or lower in 8 of 10 isolates; range: AME (0.125–2 μg/mL) versus AMB (0.25–4 μg/mL). MFC
90
values of AME (1 μg/mL) was slightly superior to AMB (2 μg/mL). The MIC of the quality control strain (ATCC
®
90028) was within an acceptable range.
Conclusions:
AME was equivalent to AMB
in vitro
against
C. albicans
. This formula may offer a slightly more efficient and less toxic formulation for the treatment of
Candida
endophthalmitis.
