Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dermatophytes are closely related keratinophilic fungi that cause dermatophytosis. Dermatophytosis is caused by three genera of fungi imperfectii viz. Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton and where the perfect state of the species has been identified to the genus Arthroderma in the class Ascomycetes. Their keratinophilic nature allows them to degrade keratin and thus invade skin, hair and nails. AIMS: This study aimed to establish the identity of fungal isolates from clinically suspected cases of dermatophytosis and to correlate the occurrence of dermatophytosis with clinico-epidemiological profile of patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 372 samples from patients attending outpatient department from March 2010 to May 2011 were included in the study. A brief clinical history was obtained from the patients and samples were collected and processed as per standard protocol. Fungal growth was identified by gross colony morphology, lactophenol cotton blue mount, and color change on dermatophyte test medium (DTM) and microslide culture. RESULTS: The most common dermatophyte was Trichophyton rubrum (12.1%) whereas Aspergillus niger (5.6%) was the commonest isolate among non-dermatophyte. Among clinical forms, majority of the patients had tinea corporis (55.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Dermatophytosis was found to be more prevalent in young adults (21-30 years). Culturing specimen on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) with antibiotics was found to be the best method for diagnosis and this medium proved to be better than DTM. The most common dermatophyte was Trichophyton rubrum and the most common clinical form of dermatophytosis was tinea corporis. Fungal infection of the skin tends to be chronic and lead to disfigurement, which may be a source of embarrassment to the person concerned. Diagnosis of these fungal infections in the laboratory must be encouraged, as they are easy to perform and require minimum infrastructure.