Why MIC matters? Microbiologists vs. clinicians

摘要

Several mechanisms of resistance may interfere with the patients’ healing from a fungal infection. However, in premature children fungi are generally susceptible to antifungal agents, except in case of vertical transmission from the mother. In vitro sensitivity tests have been recently harmonized between American and European standards, after years of unhomogeneity: to date, the interpretation of epidemiological cut-off of wild-type population and clinical cut-off are common, and are often updated. Sensitivity tests are difficult to perform, but luckily new commercial tests approvedby FDA are available. Sometimes, knowing the intrinsic sensitivities and resistances of every fungal species and subspecies may be enough in the clinical practice, since few resistances are acquired.