Antifungal susceptibility testing - New technology and clinical applications

Antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts is standardized now and may be considered comparable to susceptibility testing of bacteria. It is clear that antifungal susceptibility testing can predict outcome in several clinical situations. It is most useful in dealing with infections caused by non-albicans species of Candida, and susceptibility testing of azoles is increasingly important in the management of candidiasis in critically ill patients. Susceptibility testing also has been standardized for filamentous fungi that cause invasive infections. Ongoing studies are attempting to refine this approach further and to establish clinical correlates. This article summarizes the progress and new developments in the area of antifungal testing.