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Background and Objective: The increase of nosocomial systematic fungal infections due to pathogenic yeast, led to researchers on finding novel antifungals with potent inhibitory activity toward a wide range of pathogenic fungi. In the present study, antifungal effect of aqueous garlic extract individually and in combination with Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Ketoconazole were studied against some pathogenic yeasts. Materials and Methods: Broth microdilution method was used for evaluating antifungal activities of aqueous garlic extract with 0.03-256 µg/ml individually and in combination with Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Ketoconazole against Candida albicans PTCC5057, Candida dubliniensis CD36, Cryptococcus neoformance CNE1 and Malassezia furfur MF1, in vitro. The microdilution method was used for assessing antifungal susceptibility of above-mentioned compounds in two culture media sabouraud dextrose broth (for all fungi except M.furfur) and modified Dixon broth (for only M.furfur). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of aqueous garlic extract and antifungal drugs tested were determined by on comparison of colony forming units (CFU) between test and control groups. Results: Aqueous garlic extract inhibited the growth of all fungi tested in a dose-dependent manner, in a concentration comparable with azole drugs.The MIC ranges of aqueous garlic extract, Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Cryptococcus neoformances and Malassezia furfur was determined to be 0.25-64 g/ml. The MIC ranges of aqueous garlic extract in combination with Fluconazole was determined 0.125-8, 0.25-16, 0.125-16 and 0.5-8 µg/ml, respectively. The MIC ranges of aqueous garlic extract in combination with Itraconazole was determined 0.25-8, 0.125-2, 0.125-16, 0.25-4 µg/ml, respectively.The MIC ranges of aqueous garlic extract in combination with Ketoconazole was determined 0.125-4, 0.125-1, 0.125-8 and 0.125-2 µg/ml, respectively.The results indicated that the antifungal activities of drugs were increased in combination with aqueous garlic extract (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that, the aqueous garlic extract increased the antifungal activity and decreased MIC of drugs in combination with them.

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Background and Objective: Tinea versicolor is a common fungal infection of the skin caused by the dimorphic lipophilic yeast Pityrosporum orbicular (Malassezia furfur). Lesions begin as multiple small, circular macules of various colors. The upper trunk is most commonly affected due to the side effects of oral treatment and drug resistance, this study was done to compare the therapeutic efficacy of topical terbinafine versus topical ketoconazole in Tinea versicolor. Materials and Methods: This Randomized double blind clinical trial study was conducted between 2008-09. Sixty nine patients with a clinical diagnosis of pityriasis versicolor confirmed by microscopic potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination were taken for the study. Patients randomly divided into 2 treatment groups: 35 patients in terbinafine group, treated by terbinafine 1% once daily for 2 weeks and 34 patients in ketoconazole group, treated with ketoconazole 2% once daily for 2 weeks. Five patients of terbinafine and 4 patients of ketoconazole groups were excluded due to lack of follow-up. Patients were followed up at monthly intervals for 3 months and recurrence and cure rate for each subject were recorded. Data was analyzed by SPSS-16, t student and Chi-Square test. Results: The mean moderate cure rate obtained one month after treatment was 20% in terbinafine group versus 3.3% in ketoconazole group, and there was no any significant difference between two groups. The mean moderate cure rate two month after treatment was 67.7% in terbinafine group and 60% in ketoconazole group (P<0.05). The mean complete cure rate three month after treatment was 73.3% in terbinafine group and 10% in ketoconazole group (P<0.05). The percent of positive KOH examination, three month after treatment was 10% in terbinafine group and 36.7% in ketoconazole group (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that terbinafin is more effective than ketoconazole in treatment of tinea versicolor.

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Background and Objective: Candida albicans is the normal flora of the body as opportunistic fungi. It causes candidiasis in immunocompromised condition. This study was done to drug susceptibility testing of Candida albicans isolated from patients against Amphotericin B and Ketoconazole.

Methods: In this descriptive – analytic study, drug susceptibility of 30 Candida albicans isolated from patients admitted to Tehran hospitals, Iran was tested against Amphotericin B and Ketoconazole by micro dilution method in accordance with CLSI M27-A2 guideline and disk diffusion method in accordance with CLSI M44-S2 guideline. Standard isolate Candida albicans PTCC (5027) and Candida krusei PTCC (5295) were used for quality control.

Results: The minimum and maximum MIC against Amphotrericin B was 0.0625 µg.ml^-1 and
4 µg.ml^-1, respectively. The minimum and maximum MIC against Ketoconazole was 0.5 µg/ml^-1 and 32 µg/ml^-1, respectively. The minimum and maximum zone diameter was 6 and 28 mm for both drugs. The results of drug susceptibility testing by two methods did not show significant differences. 25 isolates (83.3%) against ketoconazole and 2 isolates (6.7%) against Amphotericin B were resistant.

Conclusion: Amphotericin B administration seems better choice in candidiasis treatment in comparision with Ketoconazole.