Isolation and Identification of Fungi from Patients Suffering from Superficial Skin Infection in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Description

Abstract (English)

Introduction: Superficial fungal infections are often seen in day-to-day clinical practice, and their prevalence
continues to rise worldwide. The present study attempts to find out the distribution of superficial fungal infection
with respect to socio-economic and demographic variables among a symptomatic group.
Objective: The present study was undertaken with a view to isolate the fungi from patients suffering from
superficial skin infection attending Dermatology OPD at NAMO Medical Education & Research Institute
Silvassa, DNH and to assess the clinical profile, prevalence of dermatophytes infection in study population.
Methods: A clinical and mycological study of superficial mycosis was conducted on 100 cases (65 male & 35
female). Direct microscopy by KOH mount and culture was undertaken to isolate the fungal pathogen in each
case. Further, LPCB mount was performed for microscopic morphology.
Result: A total of 100 patients were enrolled in the study. Dermatophytosis was the commonest superficial
fungal infection in 47 cases), followed by Candidiasis in 8 (14.5%) cases. Commonest clinical presentation was
T. corporis in 32 (39%), followed by T. cruris in 27 (33%) cases. The commonest dermatophyte cultured was T.
mentagrophyte in 22 (22%) followed by T. rubrum in 15 (14.9%) cases. Non Dermatophytic Molds (NDM) were
isolated in 3/55 (5.4%) cases. The commonest NDM isolated was Exophiala.
Conclusion: We conclude that along with dermatophytes, non dermatophytic fungus are also emerging as
important cause of superficial mycosis. Direct microscopy and culture both are important tools for diagnosis of
fungal infections.