Clinico-mycological evaluation of dermatophytes and non-dermatophytes isolated from various clinical samples: A study from north India

Sir,Incidence rates of fungal infections have increased significantly over the last 15 to 20 years.[1]This disorder is significant due to clinical consequence with respect to its contagious nature, cosmetic consequences, chronicity, recurrences, and therapeutic difficulties. The present study was done to assess the clinicoepidemiological profile of fungal infections, species identification, and to compare clinical diagnosis with direct microscopy and culture positivity from clinically suspected cases. From March to August 2011, 80 specimens were processed from clinically suspected cases of dematophytosis/dermatomycosis attending the Dermatology Out Patient Department and sent to Microbiology for mycological work-up. Specimens included skin scales, hair, nails (superficial mycoses), and tissue (deep mycoses). Specimens were analyzed by direct microscopy and subjected to culture study (Sabouraud‘s Dextrose Agar, cornmeal agar, blood agar).Pathogens were differentiated from contaminants following these guidelines: (1) Dermatophyte isolated on culture was considered a pathogen, (2) a nondermatophyte mould (NDM) or yeast cultured was significant only if direct microscopy was positive and (3) NDM required repeated isolation.[2]…