Use of cycloheximide in the selective isolation of fungi pathogenic to man.

Abstract

Abstract Controlled experiments demonstrated that concentrations of cycloheximide (Acti-Dione), which inhibited the growth of many saprophytic fungi, did not suppress the growth of most of the fungi which produce subcutaneous or systemic disease in man. The following exceptions were noted: C. neoformans, A. fumigatus , and A. Boydii . To date the cycloheximide medium has been successfully used to obtain pure cultures of pathogenic fungi from sputa, animal hairs, toenail clippings, and other materials heavily contaminated with saprophytic molds and bacteria. The cycloheximide medium has also proved useful in freeing stock cultures of pathogenic fungi from contaminating saprophytic molds. This medium should be useful in many phases of medical mycology where the inhibition of contaminating microorganisms is important.