Prevalence of Dermatophytosis in patients in a tertiary care centre in and around Cuddalore district

Background: The common cause of skin infections are dermatophytes and opportunistic fungi. Aim of this study was to isolate and identify the fungal agents from clinical samples from patients with different mycoses. Superficial mycoses are among the most frequent forms of human infections, affecting more than 20–25% of the world' population. They are predominantly caused by a group of closely related keratinophilic mycelia fungi (dermato-phytes) in the genera of Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. These groups of fungi invade the stratum corneum of the skin or other keratinized tissues derived from the epidermis such as hair and nails. Aim and objectives: The present work aims at evaluation of rate of incidences of dermatophytic infections (group wise), and etiological agents with associated symptoms. In addition, we also determine to test the sensitivity of present diagnostic procedures. Materials and methods: Samples were collected from 100 patients. A portion of each sample was examined microscopically and the remaining portion of each sample was cultured onto plates of Sabouraud's dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol with and without cycloheximide. Dermatophyte isolates were identified by studying macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of their colonies .Preliminary identification was done by conventional methods and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction – Restriction Fragment length Polymorphism (PCR -RFLP) technique. Results: All over 62/100 specimens were KOH positive and 48/62 (82.7%) samples were culture positive. Of these, highest isolation rate was obtained in opportunistic mycoses such as candidiasis (29/29, 100%). Dermatophytes were isolated in 41/62 (66.3%) specimens and Trichophyton rubrum was the commonest isolate in skin samples (44/62) among the patients suffering from dermatophytosis. Phaeoannellomyces Wernicke was isolated in a patient suffering from tinea nigra. The study signifies the importance of mycological examination in the diagnosis of various mycoses for their effective management. Conclusion: Dermatophytoses are distributed worldwide with increased incidence especially in a tropical country like India. Several factors such as age, sex, illiteracy, poor hygiene and social economy influence the dermatophyte infection. In the present study we have attempted to understand the epidemological status of the dermatophytes in a tertiary care centre in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India. Tinea corporis was the predominant clinical site from which dermatophytes were isolated. T. Rubrum and T. Mentagrophytes have been the major etiological agents and that has been evinced by our study.