| Summary: | Introduction: Reactive sulphur species (RSS) have been recently discovered to be a part of a major endogenous antioxidant system. Nonetheless, the RSS was implicated as an underlying mechanism in reducing the efficacy of several antibiotics, such as penicillin and carbapenem. The emergence of drug resistance has been a global concern. In fact, several incidences on the azole resistant Trichophyton sp. isolates in the clinical setting, such as clotrimazole, have also been reported. Clotrimazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal commonly used in dermatophytosis management caused by the Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, and Microsporum genera. This study investigated the role of RSS, as a potential element underlying the resistance against clotrimazole. Methods: The Trichophyton rubrum growth in sulphide-rich environment was initially established by exposing towards several concentrations of sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS). Then, to investigate the potential interaction between the RSS and clotrimazole, the T. rubrum were treated with 1000 µM of clotrimazole, with or without co-treatment several concentrations of NaHS. Broth microdilution method was performed to observe the growth of the fungus. Results: As expected, clotrimazole exhibited cytotoxic effect towards T. rubrum at high concentration. Interestingly, the growth of T. rubrum was significantly recovered (p<0.01) in samples co-treated with clotrimazole (1000 µM) and NaHS in a dose-dependent manner. Co-treatment with the highest concentration of NaHS (1000 µM), the T. rubrum growth was recorded approximately 90%, despite being exposed to 1000 µM of clotrimazole. Conclusion: In conclusion, RSS potentially interferes with the efficacy of clotrimazole. The exact mechanism underlying such activity warrants further investigation. © 2023 UPM Press. All rights reserved.
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