Frontiers in Microbiology (Aug 2021)

In vitro Antifungal Susceptibility Profiles of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and Cryptococcus gattii Clinical Isolates in Guangxi, Southern China

  • Najwa Al-Odaini,
  • Najwa Al-Odaini,
  • Xiu-ying Li,
  • Xiu-ying Li,
  • Bing-kun Li,
  • Bing-kun Li,
  • Xing-chun Chen,
  • Chun-yang Huang,
  • Chun-yang Huang,
  • Chun-ying Lv,
  • Chun-ying Lv,
  • Kai-su Pan,
  • Kai-su Pan,
  • Dong-yan Zheng,
  • Dong-yan Zheng,
  • Yan-qing Zheng,
  • Yan-qing Zheng,
  • Wan-qing Liao,
  • Cun-wei Cao,
  • Cun-wei Cao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.708280
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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This study analyzed the in vitro drug sensitivity of Cryptococcus spp. from Guangxi, Southern China. One hundred three strains of Cryptococcus were recovered from 86 patients; 14 were HIV positive and 72 were HIV negative. Ninety-two strains were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii, while 11 strains were identified as Cryptococcus gattii (5 C. gattii sensu stricto and 6 Cryptococcus deuterogattii). The recovered strains were tested against commonly used antifungal drugs (fluconazole, amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, itraconazole, and voriconazole) and to novel antifungal drugs (posaconazole and isavuconazole) using CLSI M27-A4 method. The results showed that all isolates were susceptible to most antifungal drugs, of which the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges were as follows: 0.05–4 μg/ml for fluconazole, 0.25–1 μg/ml for amphotericin B; 0.0625–2 μg/ml for 5-fluorocytosine, 0.0625–0.25 μg/ml for itraconazole, 0.0078–0.25 μg/ml for voriconazole, 0.0313–0.5 μg/ml for posaconazole, 0.0020–0.125 μg/ml for isavuconazole for C. neoformans var. grubii isolates, and 1–16 μg/ml for fluconazole, 0.125–1 μg/ml for 5-fluorocytosine, 0.25–1 μg/ml for amphotericin B, 0.0625–0.25 μg/ml for itraconazole, 0.0156–0.125 μg/ml for voriconazole, 0.0156–0.25 μg/ml for posaconazole, and 0.0078–0.125 μg/ml for isavuconazole for C. gattii isolates. Furthermore, some C. neoformans var. grubii isolates were found to be susceptible-dose dependent to 5-fluorocytosine and itraconazole. In addition, a reduction in the potency of fluconazole against C. gattii is possible. We observed no statistical differences in susceptibility of C. neoformans var. grubii and C. gattii in the tested strains. Continuous observation of antifungal susceptibility of Cryptococcus isolates is recommended to monitor the emergence of resistant strains.

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