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DOI: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/jmrr.2395.6623.4118.6

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatophytosis is superficial fungal infection caused by dermatophytes. North Karnataka is well known for its hot and humid conditions making its population at risk for many fungal infections. Hence this study was undertaken to know the prevalence of dermatophytoses in our tertiary care hospital at Gulbarga and to isolate and identify the most common dermatophyte causing tinea infection in the said population.

Materials and methods: This is a nine months study where a total of 195 samples from patients who were clinically suspected to have dermatophytoses were collected. Direct examination for fungal elements was done by using 10% KOH for skin and hair samples and 20% KOH for nail samples. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA) with gentamicin and cycloheximide (SDA with actidione). Samples were inoculated and incubated at 370C and another set at 250C in BOD incubator. Identification of fungal growth was done by macroscopic examination of colony morphology, pigment production and microscopic examination by lactophenol cotton blue preparation.

Results: In this study, out of 195 clinically suspected cases, 142 (72.82%) samples were positive in direct examination and 66 (33.84%) cases were culture positive. Most number of clinical cases was observed between age groups of 0–20 (57.43%) years and in males (62.05%). The most common clinical presentation of tinea infection in the patients coming to our hospital was T.corporis (35.38%). Most of the culture positive samples were from the age group of 0-10 years and most common clinical presentation among the culture positive samples was T.corporis. Out of 66 culture positive cases, the most common dermatophyte species isolated was Trichophyton rubrum (21, 31.81%),
followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (17, 25.75%).

Conclusion: Most common dermatophyte causing infection was Trichophyton and most common species causing infection in patients coming to our hospital was Trichophyton rubrum.

Keywords: Dermatophytes; Trichophyton; Trichophyton Rubrum; Trichophyton Mentagrophytes; Tinea Corporis.

Corresponding Author : Guruprasad K.Y., Professor and Professor, Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Leprosy, Khaja Bandanawaz Institute of Medical Sciences, Gulbarga, Karnataka 585104, India.