In vitro interaction of antifungal and antibacterial drugs against Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii before and after capsular induction

Med Mycol. 2015 Nov;53(8):885-9. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myv059. Epub 2015 Sep 1.

Abstract

This study evaluated the synergistic interactions between amphotericin B (AMB) and azithromycin (AZM), daptomycin (DAP), linezolid (LNZ), minocycline (MINO), fluconazole (FLZ), flucytosine (5FC), linezolid (LZD), or tigecycline (TIG) against clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii before and after capsule induction. High synergism (>75%) was observed for the combinations, AMB+5FC, AMB+TIG, AMB+AZM, AMB+LZD and AMB+MINO but only in the strains after capsule induction. The results show that the presence of the capsule may lower the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antifungal agents, but antimicrobial activity can be improved by combining antifungal and antibacterial agents.

Keywords: Antifungal; Cryptococcus neorformans var.grubii; antibacterial; encapsulate; interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / drug effects*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / metabolism
  • Drug Interactions*
  • Fungal Capsules / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B