CLINICO-MYCOLOGICAL CORRELATION OF DERMATOPHYTIC INFECTIONS IN PATIENT ATTENDING TO A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The number of patients with diabetes and other chronic diseases,immunocompromised patients, HIV-positive people, and age-related alterations in immuneresponse have all contributed to the growth of dermatophytosis infections in recent decades.Therefore, the study was carried out to identify the dermatophytic infection in clinicallysuspected patients attending to a tertiary care hospital. Materials and methods: 50 clinically suspected cases were included in the study according tothe inclusion and exclusion criteria. Skin scrapings, crusts and clipped nail or plucked hairsamples were collected from the patients. Specimens were examined microscopically by KOHmount then cultured on SDA and DTM. Upon growth, LPCB mount, slide culture and ureasetests were performed.Results: 1.78:1 male female ratio was reported. Most common affected group was 31-45 years.Tinea corporis was most common type observed in male and female followed by Tinea crurisand Tinea capitis. A total of 28 cases tested positive using both microscopy and culture methods.7 cases were found positive through microscopy but were negative in the culture tests. 2 casesshowed negative results in microscopy but returned positive results in culture. 13 (26%) caseswere negative by both microscopy as well as culture. Among 35 isolates, T.mentagrophytes werethe commonest followed by T.rubrum and T. tonsurans. Conclusion: The present study highlighted maximum isolates were T.mentagrophytes followedby T.rubrum and T.tonsurans from clinically suspected dermatophytosis patients.