Epidermophyton floccosum kao uzročnik Tinea pedis - prikaz slučaja

Abstract

Tinea pedis or athlete's foot is a surface fungal epidermal infection caused by dermatophytic fungi of the species Trichophyton (T.) rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, Epidermophyton floccosum or T. tonsurans. It occurs most often in adult men, rarely in women and children. It is estimated that at least 70% of all people have a fungal foot infection at least once in their lifetime. Case report: a 43-year-old male with a clinical picture of Tinea pedis was referred to the Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanović Batut" for laboratory diagnostics of the fungal infection of the right foot. In terms of patient history, he reported having dry, flaky changes to the skin of his right foot for two years, as well as erosion in the III and IV interdigital spaces of the foot. Due to itching, burning, and flaking of the skin on his feet, he reported to the attending physician who put him on betamethasone/gentamicin cream. The itching decreased, but the changes did not recede. Right foot toenails were not showing visible signs of infection. Direct microscopic examination of the right foot scrapings found micellar fibres and arthrospores, while culturing on dermatophyte-appropriate media allowed for the isolation of Epidermophyton floccosum. The isolate was identified based on microscopic morphology of the cultured organism, macroscopic appearance of the culture on dermatophyte isolation media, as well as using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric diagnostics. Mycological confirmation of foot infection with the Epidermophyton floccosum fungus, with adequate treatment, reduces the risk of developing an onychomycosis, which is harder to treat.