We have compared the in vitro activity of the new antifungal drug eberconazole with those of three other topical antifungal agents, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, and miconazole, against 200 strains of dermatophytes. MICs were determined by a microdilution method with optimal conditions determined in a previous study (an inoculum of 10(4) CFU/ml, an incubation temperature of 28 degrees C, an incubation period of 7 days, and a MIC endpoint of 100% inhibition of growth). In general, the four drugs tested showed low MICs. However, eberconazole was more active (P < 0.05) than the other three drugs against the majority of the species tested. Eberconazole represents an advantageous alternative for dermatophytoses where a topical therapy is required.