Clinico-Mycological correlation of Superficial Fungal Infections

Correspondence: Dr. Sunil Kumar Gupta, Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology, Venereology, Leprology, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Background: Cutaneous fungal infections are one of the most common diseases in clinical practice. Superficial mycoses refers to fungal infection of skin and its appendages and include dermatophytosis, tinea nigra, piedra, pityriasis versicolor, candidiasis, dermatomycoses caused by Scytalidium spp. and onychomycosis caused by non-dermatophyte moulds. The prevalence of fungi causing superficial mycoses varies with time and geographical location. This study was conducted to study the clinicomycological correlation of superficial fungal infections. Material & Method: A total of 100 clinically diagnosed cases of superficial mycoses were included in the study. After detailed history and clinical examination, specimens like nail, hair, skin & mucosal scrapings were sent for KOH (potassium hydroxide) smear and fungal culture in the mycology laboratory. The clinical and mycological findings thus obtained were correlated. Results: In this study, male to female ratio came out to be 1:1. Most common clinical type seen was tinea corporis followed by onychomycosis. KOH positivity was 78% and 52% of the cases were culture positive. Most common fungal isolate was Trichophyton rubrum followed by T. mentagrophytes. Conclusion: Dermatophytes remain the most common cause of superficial mycoses, but yeasts and non-dermatophytic moulds are also emerging as one of the causes, especially in nail infections. This study emphasizes the role of good hygiene in preventing transmission and further spread of such infections. Fungal culture identifies the species but it is not essential for the diagnosis, as it is not a sensitive test, but is useful for studying epidemiology of the disease.