Spectrum of dermatophytes in a tertiary care centre in Northern India
Authors: Kaur Pavneet , Awal Guneet , Singh Amandeep , Kaur Ramanjit , Kaur Parmeet 
Published: December 2021

Dermatophytes is major public health challenge in many parts of the world, mainly in developing countries due to poor housing facilities, high population per capita, and poor sanitary conditions. Early diagnosis and identification is must for preventing and early treatment of dermatophytosis. Also, some studies suggest that in prepubescent children there is an inadequate amount of fungi inhibiting fatty acids synthesized predisposing them to dermatophytic infections. Reduction in the synthesis of these fungistatic triglycerides in sebum premenopausal women is also seen predisposing them to infection by dermatophytes. However, low socioeconomic status along with illiteracy and overpopulation has been a main predisposing factor to dermatophytic infections in developing parts of the world. The incidence also been increased due to the rise in the number of immunocompromised patients and considerable use of broad-spectrum antibioticsEarly finding of infection is must for prevention and early management of dermatophytosis. Dermatophytes enter keratinized tissue via keratinases, which produce a dermal inflammatory response causing burning, itching and redness

To determine prevalence of species of dermatophytes.

This Study was conducted on 334 samples i.e. skin scrapings, nail clippings, and hair for fungal culture in the Mycology laboratory over a period of one year extending from December 2019 to December 2020. Specimens were cultured on modified Sabouraud's dextrose agar media containing antibiotics and incubated at 25°C and 37°C for a period of 4 weeks. Isolation and identification of various species of dermatophytes were done. A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who came to our hospital in the department of dermatology or were referred to the department of microbiology over a period of one year extending from November 2019 to November 2020.

Microbiological tests of suspected patients included potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount and fungal culture examination. Cases with culture-positive results were correlated with clinical diagnosis. In the study total of 334 samples (skin scrapings, nail clippings, and hair) were received for fungal culture in the microbiology laboratory during the study period. Samples obtained were cultured on modified Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) media containing antibiotics and incubated at 25°C and 37°C for a period of 4 weeks. Species identification was performed based on colony's morphology, finding of the teased mount by using lactophenol cotton blue stain (LCB) and slide culture, and also with urea hydrolysis test as seen.

The Study was performed on 334 samples received from the department of dermatology for fungal culture. Fungal elements were seen in 31% of cases and were isolated in 30% of cases. In these culture-positive cases, dermatophytes were reported in 90% cases, Candida species in 4%, and another fungus was reported in 6% cases. Trichophyton species is most commonly isolated (27.6%). Microsporum and Epidermophyton species were isolated in 5.1% cases. T. mentagrophytes was the most common fungal isolate among all the culture-positive cases.