Effect of Fungistatie Agents on Corneal Infections with Candida Albicans

Introduction Nystatin,* derived from an Actinomyces species, Streptomyces noursei, and amphotericin B,† derived from S. noursei sp. are two of a new group of fungistatic agents1,2which have been found to be effective against fungal infections. Chemically they have been shown to be conjugated polyene chromophores typified by nystatin, in which present knowledge indicates the structure to be a large molecule composed of (a) a 40carbon unit containing polyene bonds, a carboxyl group, a lactone group, and 11 hydroxyl groupings and (b) a glycosidically bound 6-carbon amino sugar unit.3They have been shown to have very little antibacterial action4but in vitro show a wide range of antifungal activity, especially against the yeasts or yeast-like fungi.1,5These antibiotics are water insoluble and are stable when kept dry, cold, and in the dark but lose activity rapidly when in solution. Nystatin has been used widely in the