Clinicomycological Pattern of Dermatophytosis in Odisha, a Coastal State of Eastern India

Background: Dermatophytosis is a fungal infection that targets the skin and its appendages, such as the nails and hair. It affects all age groups and is estimated to affect approximately 20-25 of the population across the world. There are insufficient data on the clinic-mycological pattern of dermatophytosis in Odisha, a coastal state in eastern India. The study aims to explore the clinico-mycological pattern of prevailing superficial cutaneous fungal infections and to identify the specific species as per the site of skin involvement. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Dermatology in collaboration with the Department of Microbiology at a tertiary health care centre, Odisha, for a period of 2 years, from October 2020 to September 2022. Participants aged 18-65 years with active dermatophyte infections of the skin were included in the study. Clinical examination and mycological workup were performed, and the collected samples were divided into two parts, one for direct microscopy and the other for fungal culture. Results: According to our study, the most common isolate was Trichophyton mentagrophytes (21.7), followed by T. rubrum (11.7), and 5.3 of cultures showed T. schoenleinii isolates, whereas Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypseum constituted 2.7 and 0.7, respectively. Conclusion: The present study focuses on the prevalence and clinical trends of different dermatophyte species associated with dermatophytosis in eastern India. Due to the favourable climate of Odisha, superficial mycoses are prevalent here, and according to our study, Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the predominate isolate in this region. Keywords: Dermatophytosis, direct microscopy, Epidermophyton floccosum, fungal culture, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum