Laboratory and clinical experience with clotrimzole (Bay b 5097)

Clotrimazole (Bay b 5097) was studied for its antifungal activity both in vitro and in vivo. In 30 of 33 strains of Madurella mycetomi tested, and in both strains of Aspergillus flavus, the M.I.C. was as low as 0.1–1.0 μg/ml but in 7 patients infected with these fungi (5 with mycetoma and 2 with paranasal aspergilloma), the drug had no beneficial effect at 60 mg/kg per day given orally over an average period of treatment of 127 days. Gastrointestinal side effects and dysuria were noticed in all patients. One patient developed anaemia another showed signs of liver toxicity. Local treatment with a 1% solution of the drug was however successful in 2 cases of paronychia due to Candida albicans.