Serotypes of clinical cerebrospinal fluid Cryptococcus neoformans isolates from southern Taiwan and their in vitro susceptibilities to amphotericin B, fluconazole, and voriconazole.

In this study, 34 clinical cerebrospinal fluid isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans were serotyped, and their in vitro susceptibilities to amphotericin B, fluconazole, and voriconazole were analyzed. Of these 34 isolates, serotype A was found in 29 isolates and serotype B in the other five. The voriconazole geometric mean MIC was significantly lower than the amphotericin B/antibiotic medium 3 geometric mean MIC (P < 0.0001 at both 48 and 72 h), as well as the fluconazole geometric mean MIC (P < 0.0001 at both 48 and 72 h). Of the three antifungal agents, only fluconazole, with geometric mean MICs at both 48 and 72 h, showed significant difference between the serotypes A and B of C. neoformans.