We compared the micafungin killing rate and postantifungal effect (PAFE) at 4, 16 and 32 mg/L in RPMI- 1640 and in 50% serum against the C. albicans complex. In RPMI-1640 PAFEs were 1.5 - >19.4, 9.7 - >20.1 and 15.9 - >18.5 hours for C. albicans, C. africana and C. dubliniensis, respectively. In 50% serum PAFEs decreased sharply to 0-1.7 hours for all three species; killing rates were always negative. Short growth inhibition without killing in 50% serum suggests that micafungin PAFE has a limited role in the eradication of the C. albicans complex from the bloodstream.
Keywords: 50% serum; C. albicans complex; Killing rate; Time-kill.