Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic fungi causing superficial infections in a tertiary care hospital

Gowri S; Paulkamesh D; Sucilathangam G; Revathy C

Volume : IV, Issue : VII, July - 2015

Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic fungi causing superficial infections in a tertiary care hospital

Gowri S, Paulkamesh D, Sucilathangam G, Revathy C

Abstract :

Background: Superficial mycoses ( fungal infections) are common skin diseases affecting millions of people worldwide. This affects people of all age groups while common in immunocompromised individuals. Superficial mycoses are of two types namely surface mycoses and cutaneous mycoses. Present study was performed for the isolation and identification of fungal species from infected patients and to study prevalence of superficial mycoses. Methods: Clinical samples from 55 patients were subjected to potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination and culture isolation; causative agents were identified macroscopically and microscopically. Results: Based on the study the most common cause of Tinea pedis, Tinea corporis, Tinea cruris, Tinea faciei was identified to be Trichophyton ruum. Other frequently implicated agents include Microsporum canis, Micrrosporum gypseum and Epidermophyton floccosum. Conclusion: Trichophyton spp was the common Dermatophyte in the study population and the predominant clinical presentation of Superficial mycoses is Tinea corporis