A four-year retrospective study on epidemiological updates of dermatophytosis in Kuwait

Dermatophytosis is a common superficial fungal infection caused by dermatophytes that infect keratinized tissues, including the skin, scalp, and nails. Dermatophytes are categorized into three groups: anthropophilic, zoophilic, and geophilic. In this study, we aimed to explore the recent epidemiology of dermatophytosis across Kuwait from January 2021 to December 2024. Data were collected from the Reference Mycology Laboratory in Kuwait, and a statistical analysis was performed with GraphPad Prism 10. A total of 214 dermatophyte isolates from 211 patients were obtained during the study period. The predominant dermatophytes isolated were zoophilic species, accounting for 127 (59%) cases, followed by 57 cases involving anthropophilic species (26.5%), 8 cases involving geophilic dermatophytes (4%), and 22 cases involving unidentified species (10.5%). The most frequently isolated dermatophyte was Trichophyton spp., with 132 cases identified (61.5%), followed by 73 cases involving Microsporum spp. (34%) and 8 cases involving Nannizzia spp. (4%). Epidermophyton spp. were rarely isolated, with only one case being found (0.5%). Seven cases of Trichophyton indotineae (3.3%) were also detected among all the Trichophyton spp. The most frequently affected age group was children under 10 years of age. Dermatophytosis was slightly more prevalent in males than in females. The abundance of zoophilic dermatophytes was greater than that of anthropophilic species. Furthermore, the appearance of T. indotineae cases in Kuwait highlights the need for antifungal stewardship in dermatology clinics, active surveillance of refractory recurrent cases, and optimized mycology diagnostic services in dermatology clinics.