Microbioloaical Studies on some Pathogenic Fungi to Human Skin

Abstract

Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes grow best on

MYGP and Sabouraud liquid media respectively. Optimum growth of

. both organisms was achieved at 30°C, pH ( 6 & 7 ) and 100 % relative humidity. Antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole, clotrimazole, econazole, griseofulvin, polynoxylin, tolnaftate and terbinafine in combination with some metal ions were tested against Candida albicans and Trichophyton

mentagrophytes. Most of tested drugs showed an inhibitory action on the

growth of both organisms. Terbinafine and ketoconazole represented the highest inhibition. At a concentration of20 ppm ofboth drugs, the growth

of C. albicans being decreased 49.4% and 44.7% respectively. while, approximately 50% inhibition of Trichophyton mentagrophytes was observed at 100 ppm ofterbinafine and 300 ppm ofketoconazole. Some metal ions such as cobalt, nickel and selenium showed growth inhibition for both organisms. 10 ppm selenium or cobalt decreased the potency of griseofulvin, polynoxylin or tolnaftate. Whereas , they highly increase the antifungal potency of clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole and terbinafine. Addition of 10 ppm selenium or cobalt with 20 ppm terbinafine or ketoconazole increased their percentage inhibition against C. albicans to approximately 1.6 , 1.2 fold respectively, higher