Bilogical and toxicological properties of econazole, a broad-spectrum antimycotic.

The spectrum of activity of 1-(2,4-dichloro-beta-[(p-chlorobenzoyl)oxy]phenethyl)imidazole-nitrate (econazole, R 14827) was tested in vitro on various pathogenic fungi and bacteria, and also in vivo in guinea-pigs and rats experimentally infected with dermatophytes and C. albicans. The in vitro activity spectrum is very broad: the dermatophytes, the yeasts, the dimorphic fungi, the aspergilli, the mycetoma causing agents and the Gram-positive bacteria being most sensitive. Guinea-pigs infected with T. mentagrophytes, M. canis or C. albicans and treated topically or orally with econazole, were cured. In each of these tests the activity of econazole was compared with that of different reference drugs. Vaginal candidiasis in rats was cured after oral administration of econazole. Toxicity and teratogenicity studies in different laboratory animals indicate that econazole is well tolerated.