Abstract. Yeasts isolated from patients with superficial mycoses were tested against propolis samples collected from different regions and honeybee races. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values obtained using the agar dilution methods were compared to the diameters of growth inhibition zones by using the disk diffusion method. The results showed that Candida albicans, C. glabrata, Trichosporon spp., and Rhodotorula sp. were susceptible to low concentrations of propolis, the latter showing a higher susceptibility. Relative to the other propolis tested, the propolis sample collected by Apis mellifera caucasica possessed the highest antifungal activity against all of the superficial mycoses. In contrast, the propolis samples collected by A.m. carnica and A.m. anatolica were the least active samples. Also, the propolis sample from the Adana region is more active than samples from other regions. An increase of MIC values was accompanied by a decrease of growth inhibition zone diameters.

The in vitro activities of propolis against 29 strains of dermatophytes were compared with those of terbinafine, itraconazole, ketoconazole, and fluconazole. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined according to a National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards broth microdilution method. Among the systemic antifungals tested, terbinafine was the most potent. Propolis showed important antifungal activity and it merits further investigation as a potentially useful agent for the treatment of dermatophytosis.

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Our study supports that azoles could be used as first-line treatment, as oxiconazole is very effective for both dermatophytes and C. albicans. Correlation between in vitro results and clinical outcomes of cases of dermatophytes is still to be established and interpretive breakpoints defined, in order to increase the quality of patient care in tinea pedis.

Objective: The aims of the study were to investigate antibacterial susceptibility and resistance mechanisms of streptococci isolated from healthy children attending day care units and to evaluate clonal relatedness of the strains.Material and Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibilities of streptococci isolated from 212 children attending 3 different day care units were evaluated using the agar dilution method. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing were used to investigate resistance mechanisms. Clonal relatedness was evaluated using pulsed field gel electrophoresis.Results: Of 212 children, 11 (5.2%) carried Streptococcus pneumoniae, 17 (8.0%) S. pyogenes, and 42 (19.8%) erythromycin resistant viridans group streptococci. All S. pyogenes were susceptible to penicillin G and macrolides. Ten of 11 clonally unique S. pneumoniae were resistant to penicillin G. Three of 11 S. pneumoniae were macrolide resistant and carried erm(B). Among clonally unique 42 erythromycin resistant viridans group streptococci, 2 (4.8%) had erm(B), 33 (78.6%) had mef(A) and 7 (16.6%) had both erm(B) and mef(A) genes. All S. pyogenes from the first centre and three strains from the second centre were pulse-type A.Conclusion: Among healthy children, colonization with penicillin resistant pneumococci and erythromycin resistant viridans group streptococci is quite high. Clonal spread of S. pyogenes is important for day care units.