A cross sectional clinicomycological study of dermatophytosis in a tertiary care hospital, North Karnataka, India

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatophytosis is superficial fungal infection caused by a group of keratinophilic fungi called dermatophytes capable of invading keratinized tissue of skin, hair and nail. The dermatophytes which cause human disease are divided into three main genera based on their morphological characteristics as Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Hence, to determine the prevalence of dermatophytosis and to isolate different dermatophyte species. Material and Methods: The present study was hospital based, cross-sectional study which was done in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 150 samples were collected from clinically suspected cases of dermatophytosis. Samples were subjected to mycological studies like KOH examination and fungal culture using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) media with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Species were identified based on colony morphology, microscopic features using lactophenol cotton blue mount and confirmation by using slide culture. Whenever necessary, urease test was also done for species identification. Results: In present study, out of 150 samples, majority of the patients were in1-10 yrs followed by 21-30 and 31-40 years age group and most of them were males. Among 150 samples collected, 96 (64%) cases were KOH positive and 49 (33%) were culture positive. Tinea corporis was the most common clinical type seen followed by tinea capitis, tinea cruris, and tinea faciei. Dermatophytes isolated which include Trichopyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. verrucosum, T. Schoenleinii, T. tonsurans, Microsporum gypseum, and Epidermophyton floccosum. Conclusion: Tineacorporis was the commonest clinical type of dermatophytosis and T. mentagrophytes was the most common species isolated in this study. Keywords: Dermatophytosis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum gypseum Slide culture.