Clinico-mycological Evaluation of Dermatophytes in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Saurashtra, Gujarat, India

Introduction: Dermatophytes and opportunistic fungi are common skin infection mainly affecting superficial layers of integument with rare systemic involvement. The higher prevalence in India is supposedly due to the hot and humid climatic condition, occupation and low socio-economic status. Recent upsurge in fungal infections are due to increased incidence of immunosuppressive state. Aim: To study the clinical manifestation and mycological evaluation of dermatophytosis. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional observational study was conducted during December 2007 to October 2009 in MP Shah Medical College and GG Hospital, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. Samples were taken from 200 patients with clinically diagnosed dermatophytosis. Depending on the site of lesion, samples from skin, hair or nail were taken. These samples were than examined directly under microscope and cultured on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA) and Cornmeal Agar (CMA). Descriptive statistics like mean and percentages were used to infer results. Results: Out of 200 patients, 177 (88.5%) samples were positive by Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) mount while 127 (63.5%) samples were positive by culture. Most common species of dermatophytes identified was Trichophyton rubrum followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Agricultural workers were found to be more prone to dermatophytic infection and males (61%) were more commonly affected than females (39%). Conclusion: Dermatophytosis is a common superficial mycotic infection in Saurashtra region where hot and humid climate, poor socio-economic condition and compromised personal hygiene play an important role in fungal growth. In the present study, tinea corporis was found to be the most common clinical type with T. rubrum being the commonest isolated species.