Postantifungal effect of caspofungin against the Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis clades

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2016 Oct;86(2):172-7. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2016.07.011. Epub 2016 Jul 12.

Abstract

Killing and postantifungal effects could be relevant for the selection of optimal dosing schedules. This study aims to compare time-kill and postantifungal effects with caspofungin on Candida albicans (C. albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida africana) and Candida parapsilosis (C. parapsilosis, Candida metapsilosis, Candida orthopsilosis) clades. In the postantifungal effect experiments, strains were exposed to caspofungin for 1 h at concentrations 0.12-8 μg/mL. Time-kill experiments were conducted at the same concentrations. Caspofungin exhibited a significant and prolonged postantifungal effect (>37 h) with 2 μg/mL against the most strains of C. albicans clade. Against the C. parapsilosis clade, the postantifungal effect was <12 h at 8 μg/mL, except for two strains. Caspofungin was fungicidal against C. albicans, C. dubliniensis and C. metapsilosis.

Keywords: Candida africana; Candida albicans; Candida dubliniensis; Candida metapsilosis; Candida orthopsilosis; Candida parapsilosis; Caspofungin; Echinocandins; Postantifungal effect.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Candida / drug effects*
  • Candida / physiology
  • Caspofungin
  • Echinocandins / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Lipopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Echinocandins
  • Lipopeptides
  • Caspofungin