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Original Article

Efficacy and safety of terbinafine

hydrochloride 1% cream vs eberconazole
nitrate 1% cream in localised tinea corporis
and tinea cruris
Sanjiv V. Choudhary, Taru Aghi, Shazia Bisati
Department of
Dermatology, Jawaharlal
Nehru Medical College,
Sawangi, Wardha,
Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT
Aims: To study and compare the efficacy and safety of topical terbinafine hydrochloride 1% cream and
eberconazole nitrate 1% cream in localized tinea corporis and cruris. Methods and Materials: Patients were
randomized after considering various inclusion and exclusion criteria into two groups. GroupA(treated with
terbinafine 1% cream for 3weeks) and group B(treated with eberconazole 1% cream for 3weeks). The sample
size was of 30patients with 15patients in each group. Assessment of clinical improvement, KOH mount and
culture was done weekly up to 3weeks to assess complete cure. Results: On comparison between the two groups,
it was observed that eberconazole nitrate 1% cream was as effective as terbinafine hydrochloride 1% cream
at the end of first(Non-sisgnificant(NS); P=0.608, 1.00), second(NS; P=0.291,0.55), and third(P=1.00,
1.00) weeks with statistically nonsignificant clinical and mycological values. In both the groups, clinically no
significant local side effects were noticed. Conclusions: The newer fungistatic eberconazole nitrate 1% cream
was as effective as the fungicidal terbinafine hydrochloride 1% cream. Both the drugs showed good tolerability
with no adverse effects.
Key words: Dermatophytosis, eberconazole nitrate 1% cream, terbinafine hydrochloride 1% cream

INTRODUCTION
Access this article online
Website: www.idoj.in
DOI: 10.4103/2229-5178.131079
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Address for
correspondence:
Dr.Sanjiv V. Choudhary,
28 Modern Nagpur
Society, Chatrapati
Nagar, Nagpur440015,
Maharashtra, India.
Email:
sanjiv_choudhary26@
yahoo.com

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Dermatophytosis is a superficial fungal infection of

skin caused by keratinophilic fungi of trichophyton,
epidermophyton, and microsporum species. Tinea
corporis and tinea cruris is the dermatophytosis of
glabrous skin and groin, respectively.
Topical preparations with good local bioavailability
are the commonly used and preferred first
line agents in the treatment of localized
dermatophytosis. Their improved efficacy aims
to shorten the treatment period with fewer side
effects. Ease of application, enhanced patient
compliance, and minimal recurrences also add
to the therapeutic response.[1]
Newer topical antifungal agents like eberconazole,
sertaconazole, luliconazole, etc., also belong to
azole group of antifungal agents.
Eberconazole is a novel topical broad
spectrum fungistatic imidazole derivative with

a mode of action similar to that of other azole

antifungals, namely inhibition of fungal lanosterol
14demethylase. It has been shown to have broad
antimicrobial spectrum of activity to be effective
in dermatophytosis, candidiasis, and infection by
other yeasts such as Malassezzia furfur.[2]
Terbinafine hydrochloride is one of the fungicidal
allylamine group of drugs with broad spectrum of
antifungal activity. It interferes with fungal sterol
biosynthesis at an early stage. It also inhibits
squalene epoxidase, leading to intracellular
accumulation of toxic squalene and fungal cell
death.[3]
To the best of our knowledge there is no study
available at present that compares the clinical
efficacy of topical terbinafine and eberconazole
cream in treatment of tinea corporis and tinea
cruris. The present study aims to compare the
clinical response of topical eberconazole, a
fungistatic agent with terbinafine cream, which
is fungicidal.

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Choudhary, etal.: Topical antifungal drugs

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

This randomized control trial with two arms compares the clinical
efficacy and side effects of topical terbinafine hydrochloride
1% vs eberconazole nitrate 1% cream in the treatment of
localized(<20% involvement) tinea corporis and tinea cruris.
The trial was conducted at the Dermatology department of
J. N. Medical College & AVBRH, Sawangi during the period
December 2010 to November 2011. Patients were randomized
into group A (odd numbers) and group B (even numbers):
GroupA(treated with terbinafine cream) and group B(treated
with eberconazole cream). Atotal of 42patients were enrolled
in the study, 22 in groupA and 20 in groupB. However, seven
patients of groupA and five patients of groupB were lost to
followup. Therefore, the final sample size was of 30patients
with 15 patients each in group A and group B. Patients
in group A and B were treated with topical 1% terbinafine
hydrochloride and 1% eberconazole nitrate cream respectively,
twice daily for 3 weeks. The inclusion criteria included untreated
patients of dermatophytosis of all age groups, involvement
of less than 20% of body surface area, and patients whose
diagnosis was confirmed by KOH mount. Exclusion criteria
were patients of resolving dermatophytoses, patients already
on topical and systemic antifungal treatment, involvement of
more than 20% body surface area (BSA), and patients with
immunosuppressive disease or on immunosuppressive drugs.

In both terbinafine and eberconazole groups, a statistically

significant complete cure (P <0.05) was observed between
baseline to 2ndweek, as well as baseline to 3rdweek.

Diagnosis was made on clinical and mycological (KOH and

culture) grounds. All the patients had similar demographic
features with regards to age, sex, and duration of disease.
They were followed up every week to note the efficacy
and any adverse effects such as local erythema, swelling,
stinging sensation, or increased itching for a total duration of
3weeks. The patients were graded for improvement in signs
and symptoms of each clinical parameter, namely, itching,
erythema, papules, pustules, vesicles, and scaling. The overall
improvement was graded as grade I (25% improvement),
grade II (50% improvement), grade III (75% improvement),
and grade IV(100% improvement). KOH mount and culture
was done weekly up to 3weeks to assess mycological cure.
Fungal culture was done on Sabourauds dextrose agar with
chloramphenicol and cycloheximide.
We performed the mycological assessment at baseline, at the
end of 1stweek and also with minimal scales available at the
end of 2ndand 3rdweek.
Mycological cure was defined as negative KOH and culture.
Complete cure was defined as mycological cure with complete
absence of clinical signs and symptoms.
Statistical analysis was done using Students paired and
unpaired ttests from the data obtained.
Indian Dermatology Online Journal - April-June 2014 - Volume 5 - Issue 2

But individually in both groups statistically non significant results

were observed in complete cure when comparison was done
between 2nd to 3rd week (NS, P = 0.317, 0.317; P = 0.083,
0.157).
On comparison between these 2 groups, it was observed that
eberconazole nitrate 1% cream [Figures 2a-d] was as effective as
terbinafine hydrochloride 1% cream [Figures 1a-d] at the end of 1st
(NS. P = 0.608, 1.00), 2nd (NS. P = 0.291,0.55 ) and 3rd (P = 1.00,
1.00) week with statistically non-significant clinical [Table 1 and
Figure 3] and mycological values [Table 2 and Figure 4].
However, at the end of 2nd week, complete cure rate for
eberconazole was 93.33% as compared to 80% for terbinafine
with no statistical significance.
Comparison between both groups for complete cure(clinical
and mycological) at the end of 3weeks showed 100% cure rate.
In both group A and B, no clinically significant side effects such as
local erythema, swelling, stinging sensation, or increased itching
were noticed. Clinical response with both the topical antifungals
was so good that we could hardly see any scales over lesion at
the end of 2ndand 3rdweek. However, we performed culture with
whatever minimal scales available. Amajority of our patients
in both groups grew Trichophyton rubrum or Epidermophyton
floccosum growth on culture. At baseline, in groupA, 12patients
showed growth of Trichophyton rubrum, two patients showed
growth of Epidermophyton floccosum and one had growth of
Trichophyton mentagrophytes. In groupB, 11patients showed
growth of Trichophyton rubrum, three patients showed growth of
Epidermophyton floccosum and one had growth of Trichophyton
mentagrophytes. The therapeutic response was more or less
the same with infection by different species.

DISCUSSION
In one of the studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of
the topical 1% gel formulation of terbinafine in the treatment
of tinea corporis/cruris, terbinafine gel was applied once
daily for 1 week.[4] Complete cure was observed in 59%
of patients, against 13% receiving a placebo (P <0.001).
The authors concluded that a 1week course of terbinafine
1% gel was significantly more effective in the treatment
of tinea corporis/cruris than placebo gel for complete
cure(clinical and mycological).

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Choudhary, etal.: Topical antifungal drugs

Figure 1: (a) Terbinafine treated (T. Corporis) Baseline. (b) Terbinafine75% improvement at 1 week. (c) Terbinafine - 100% improvement at
2 weeks. (d) Terbinafine - 100% improvement at 3 weeks

Figure 2: (a) Eberconazole treated (T.Corporis) Baseline. (b) Eberconazole

- 75% improvement at 1 week. (c) Eberconazole - 100% improvement at
2 weeks. (d) Eberconazole- 100% improvement at 3 weeks

Figure4: Comparison of mycological assessment in both groups at

1st, 2nd, and 3rdweek
Figure3: Comparison of signs and symptoms in both groups at
1st, 2nd, and 3rdweek

Table1: Comparison of signs and symptoms in both

groups at 1st, 2nd and 3rd week
Group

N Mean Std deviation Z Value P Value

1 week
st

Terbinafine

15

2.86

0.51

Eberconazole 15

2.93

0.25

0.512

0.608 NS, P>0.05

2 week
15

3.80

0.41

Eberconazole 15

3.93

0.25

1.056

0.291 NS, P>0.05

1 week
Terbinafine

15 1.20

0.41

Eberconazole 15 1.20

0.41

15

4.00

0.00

Eberconazole 15

4.00

0.00

0.000

1.000 NS, P>0.05

0.598

0.550 NS, P>0.05

0.000

1.000 NS, P>0.05

2nd week
15 1.86

0.35

Eberconazole 15 1.93

0.25

3rd week
Eberconazole 15 2.00

3 week
0.000

0.00

1.000 NS, P>0.05

In another study, 7day oncedaily course of terbinafine

cream 1% was significantly more effective than placebo in
achieving and maintaining mycological cure(84.2 vs 23.3%,
P < 0.001). Terbinafine cream 1% was also significantly
more effective than placebo in terms of clinical response,

130

Mean Std deviation Z Value P Value

st

Terbinafine

rd

Terbinafine

Group

Terbinafine

nd

Terbinafine

Table2: Comparison of mycological assessment in

both groups at 1st 2nd and 3rd week

reduction in signs and symptoms scores, and overall

efficacy.[5]
In our study, We used a 1% cream formulation of terbinafine,
applied twice daily, and 80 and 100% complete cure rates
were noted at the end of 2ndand 3rdweeks of treatment period,
respectively.
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Choudhary, etal.: Topical antifungal drugs

In another study,[6] 60patients with mycologically proven tinea

corporis and tinea cruris were treated with eberconazole cream
1% once daily(groupA, 15patients), 1% twice daily(groupB,
15 patients), 2% once daily (group C, 15 patients), and 2%
twice daily(groupD, 15patients) for 6weeks. Eberconazole
was effective in 93% of patients in groupA, 100% of patients
in groupsB, and D and 61% of patients in groupC at the end
of 6weeks.

CONCLUSION

In a multicentric, double blind, randomized trial with 1%

eberconazole nitrate cream vs miconazole 2% cream applied
twice daily for 4weeks, it was observed that eberconazole 1%
cream is an effective treatment for dermatophytosis with a good
safety profile(clinical efficacy 76.1% in eberconazole group vs
75% miconazole group).[7]

1.

The newer fungistatic drug eberconazole nitrate 1% cream was

as effective as terbinafine hydrochloride 1% cream, which is
one of the fungicidal drugs. Both drugs showed good tolerability
with no adverse effects.

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In a comparative trial of eberconazole 1% vs clotrimazole 1%

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5.

6.

In our study, 1% eberconazole cream was used twice daily and

had shown 93.33 and 100% complete cure at end of 2ndand
3rdweek, respectively.
To the best of our knowledge, there is no study available at
present comparing the clinical efficacy of topical terbinafine and
eberconazole cream in the treatment of tinea corporis and tinea
cruris. Sample size of our study was small; further study with a
large sample size in future is needed to support our findings.
In our study eberconazole nitrate 1% cream was as effective
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and 3rdweek with 100% cure rate at the end of 3weeks. Local
side effects such as erythema, swelling, stinging sensation, or
itching as mentioned in a few studies were not observed by us.

Indian Dermatology Online Journal - April-June 2014 - Volume 5 - Issue 2

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Cite this article as: Choudhary SV, Aghi T, Bisati S. Efficacy and safety
of terbinafine hydrochloride 1% cream vs eberconazole nitrate 1% cream
in localised tinea corporis and tinea cruris. Indian Dermatol Online J
2014;5:128-31.
Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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