In vitro antifungal activity of Zataria multiflora essential oil, fluconazole and ciclopirox olamine against nonalbicans Candida species isolated from recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antifungal activity of Zataria<br />multiflora essential oil, fluconazole and ciclopirox olamine against 44 non-albicans<br />Candida isolates from patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. A set of C.<br />glabrata (29 strains), C. krusei (3 stains) and C. patapsilosis (2 strains) were studied<br />using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) broth macrodilution method.<br />The results revealed that 33 isolates were resistant (MIC=64 μg/ml), 4 isolates were<br />susceptible (MIC≤ 8 μg/ml) and 7 isolates had dose-dependent susceptibility (MIC= 16,<br />32 μg/ml) to fluconazole, respectively. With regard to fluconazole, high resistance rate<br />was observed in C .glabrata and C. krusei. However, ciclopirox olamine was found to<br />inhibit the growth of all non-albicans Candida species (MIC≤8 μg/ml). In this study,<br />favorable antifungal activity against non-albicans Candida species was obtained by Z.<br />multiflora despite having a wide range of MICs (34875-139500 μg/ml). The results<br />indicated that ciclopirox olamine and Z. multiflora might be promising in the treatment of<br />recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.