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. 2022 Mar;8(1):26-31.
doi: 10.18502/cmm.8.1.9211.

Antifungal activity of Taurolidine against Mucorales: An in vitro study on clinical isolates

Hadis Jafarian  1 , Ali Amanati  2   3 , Parisa Badiee  1
Affiliations

Antifungal activity of Taurolidine against Mucorales: An in vitro study on clinical isolates

Hadis Jafarian et al. Curr Med Mycol. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Taurolidine is active against a wide variety of micro-organisms, including bacteria and fungi. Mucormycosis is one of the life-threatening opportunistic fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Currently, the emergence of Mucormycosis during the COVID-19 pandemic raises public health concerns regarding untoward morbidity and mortality among SARS-CoV-2 patients. It is well-known that delayed and inappropriate antifungal therapy leads to increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the in-vitro antifungal activity of taurolidine to evaluate its effects against clinical isolates of Mucorales.

Materials and methods: This study included previously collected clinical Mucorales isolates. The minimum in vitro inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amphotericin B, caspofungin, voriconazole, posaconazole, and itraconazole was determined using the broth microdilution method.

Results: All clinical isolates showed full sensitivity to amphotericin B. Posaconazole MIC range from 8 μg/mL to 0.032‎ μg/mL. The MIC range of voriconazole and caspofungin were determined to be 2-8 µg/mL and 0.5-16 µg/mL, respectively. Growth of the isolates was entirely inhibited in 1000 µg/mL concentration of taurolidine. In microscopic observations, morphological effects on hyphal growth were observed at 500 µg/mL concentration.

Conclusion: In conclusion, this is an updated experience of using taurolidine against Mucorales. However, our in-vitro findings need to be confirmed in well-designed clinical trials aimed at treating invasive Mucormycosis infections.

Keywords: Minimum inhibitory concentrations; Mucormycosis; Taurolidine; Mucorales.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in any way.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Light microscopic observations of tested isolates exposed to taurolidine. Dense and normal hyphal growth in control well
Figure 2
Figure 2
Slight morphological effect in 250 ‎µg/ml‎ concentration
Figure 3
Figure 3
Short, distended, and balloon-shaped hyphae in 500 ‎µg/ml‎ concentration
Figure 4
Figure 4
Complete growth inhibition in 1000 ‎µg/ml‎ concentration
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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