Sertraline demonstrates fungicidal activity in vitro for Coccidioides immitis

Coccidioidomycosis causes substantial morbidity in endemic areas. Disseminated coccidioidomycosis is an AIDS defining condition and treatment often requires lifelong antifungal therapy. Sertraline, a widely used serotonin-reuptake inhibitor anti-depressant, has demonstrated activity against Candida and Cryptococcus sp. both in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate if sertraline has activity against Coccidioides, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of sertraline for four clinical isolates of C. immitis were determined. Sertraline was observed to have an MIC range of 4-8 µg/ml and MFC also of 4-8 µg/ml for Coccidioides. These MIC and MFC results for C. immitis are similar to those reported for Cryptococcus sp. suggesting sertraline may potentially have utility for the treatment of coccidioidomycosis.