Abstract: Objective To investigate a new method of antifungal sensibility test approximate to human internal environment by studying antifungal effects of oral itraconazole on four Candida species in human stratum corneum.Methods Twenty-one healthy adult volunteers who were divided randomly into two groups enrolled in the study.Ten volunteers were randomized to receive a 1-week dose of 200 mg itraconazole Bid,and 200 mg Qd for other eleven volunteers.Stratum corneum strippings were taken from the forearm skin on day 0,1,4,7,10,14,21,28,and 35.Yeasts of selected fungi(Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida Parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis) were deposited and cultured on the center of stratum corneum strippings.The 2-days fungal growth on stratum corneum strippings was stained with PAS,then assessed over time of corneofungimetry assay by computer-assisted image analysis.Results Itraconazole at both dosages were always significantly effective against Candida albicans,Candida Parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis on stratum corneum strippings.There was no striking significance between two groups at statistics(P>0.05),but the area covered by the yeasts was significantly lesser at the group with 1-week dose of200 mg itraconazole Bid than 200 mg Qd at Candida glabrata.(Conclusion Corneofungimetry) bioassay is a new method between in vitro trial and in vivo effect.

Key words: itraconazole, corneofungimetry bioassay, Candida