Detection of resistance to amphotericin B among Cryptococcus neoformans clinical isolates: performances of three different media assessed by using E-test and National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards M27-A methodologies

J Clin Microbiol. 1998 Oct;36(10):2817-22. doi: 10.1128/JCM.36.10.2817-2822.1998.

Abstract

Although reliable detection of resistance in vitro is critical to the overall performance of any susceptibility testing method, the recently released National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards M27-A methodology for susceptibility testing of yeasts discriminates poorly between resistant and susceptible isolates of Candida spp. We have previously shown that both substitution of antibiotic medium 3 for RPMI 1640 medium in the microdilution variant of the M27-A method and use of the E-test agar diffusion methodology permit detection of amphotericin B-resistant Candida isolates. To determine the relevance of these observations to Cryptococcus neoformans, we have evaluated the performances of both the M27-A and the E-test methodologies with this yeast using three different media (RPMI 1640 medium, antibiotic medium 3, and yeast nitrogen base). As with Candida, we found that only antibiotic medium 3 permitted consistent detection of resistant isolates when testing was performed in broth by the M27-A method. When testing was performed by the E-test agar diffusion method, both RPMI 1640 medium and antibiotic medium 3 agar permitted ready detection of the resistant isolates. Reading of the results after 48 h of incubation was required for testing in broth by the M27-A method, while the MIC could be determined after either 48 or 72 h when the agar diffusion method was used.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cryptococcosis / drug therapy
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / drug effects*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / growth & development
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification
  • Culture Media
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Culture Media
  • Amphotericin B