Anti-candidal activity of selected analgesic drugs used alone and in combination with fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole and isavuconazole.

BACKGROUND

The antifungal activity of some popular analgesic drugs was postulated by several authors.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to verify the antifungal effectiveness of acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, metamizole, meloxicam and paracetamol against triazole-susceptible and triazole-resistant Candida spp isolates.

METHODS

The minimal inhibitory concentration as well as fractional inhibitory concentration of selected analgesics and triazole on eighteen Candida spp isolates were determined by the standard microdilution method according to EUCAST.

RESULTS

Among five tested compounds, only ibuprofen showed an antifungal effect against all tested isolates. In combination tests of analgesics with triazole, three types of interaction have been observed: indifference, synergism and antagonism. An azole-resistant strain of C. albicans demonstrated synergism with IBU and each of the 5 tested azole. Posaconazole also demonstrated synergism with IBU in two other cases, namely a C. albicans strain and with C. glabrata, which were both azole-resistant. Combination of FLU and IBU in two cases resulted in antagonism: in experiments with C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. This interaction was also observed when metamizole and fluconazole were used in combination on C. krusei.

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained by us confirmed antifungal activity of ibuprofen, what support purposefulness to continue the study on antimicrobial activity of this group of drugs.