What is the usefulness of using antifungal susceptibility testing in clinical practice?

The utility of antifungal susceptibility testing lies significantly in its ability to tailor antifungal therapy to target resistant strains. This testing allows clinicians to determine the specific susceptibility or resistance of a fungal organism to various antifungal agents. By identifying which drugs are effective against the identified fungal pathogen, healthcare providers can choose the most appropriate and effective treatment, which diminishes the risk of treatment failure due to resistant organisms.

This targeted approach is particularly crucial in cases where a patient may have developed a fungal infection that is resistant to standard first-line therapies. As a result, treatment can be optimized based on the organism's profile, leading to better patient outcomes, shorter hospital stays, and a reduction in the chances of complications associated with ineffective therapy.

While costs, symptom resolution speed, and over-the-counter medication effectiveness are important aspects of clinical practice, they do not directly address the key benefit provided by antifungal susceptibility testing, which focuses on ensuring the chosen antifungal agent is appropriate for the specific strain of fungus causing the infection.