Activity of micafungin against Candida biofilms

Background: Most recalcitrant infections are associated to colonization and microbial bicifilm development. These biofilins are difficult to eliminate by the immune response mechanisms and the current antimicrobial therapy, Aim: To describe the antifungal of micafungin against fungal biofilms based in the scientific and medical literature of recent years. Methods: We have done a bibliographic retrieval using the scientific terms micafungin, activity. biofilm, Tandida, Aspergillus, fungi,mycos, Susceptibility, in PubMed/Medline from the National Library of Medicine from 2006 to 2009. Results: Most current antifungal agents (amphotericin B and fluconazole) and the new azole antifungals have no activity against fungal biofilms. However, micafungin and the rest of echinocandins are very active against Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei biofilms but their activities are variable and less strong against Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis biofilms. Moreover, they have not activities against the biofilms of Cryptoroccus y Trichosporon, Conclusions: The activity of micafungin against Candida biofllms gives more strength to its therapeutic indication for candidaemia and invasive candidiasis associated to catheter, prosthesis and other biomedical devices. (C) 2009 Revista Iberoamericana de Micologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.