Mycological profile of dermatophytes and their susceptibility pattern at tertiary care centre

• Author Details:   
• Jayshree Abhay Pohekar ^*
• Manjushree Vijay Mulay
• Ashish Deshmukh
• Smita Sitaram Kulkarni
• Shraddha Dinkarrao Naik
• Jyotsna Mishra

Introduction: Dermatophytosis is the commonest contagious fungal infection, commonly known as ringworm infections, more prevalent in tropical & subtropical countries like India. Here heat & moisture helps in promoting its growth. In recent years, the Physician and Microbiologist take more interest in these infections due to various reasons like indiscriminate use of antibiotics, anticancer therapy and immunodeficient diseases like AIDS; as they help in varied clinical presentation of dermathophytic infections. It is observed that resistance to antifungal drugs have started to come up in dermatophytosis. In response to increased incidence of resistance to antifungal drugs, it is necessary to determine the antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) of isolates to available drugs. In view of above, we have undertaken this study to develop a quick, easy & reliable method of AFST by Agar Based Disk Diffusion (ABDD) method for dermatophytes.

Aim and Objective: To study a quick, easy & reliable method of AFST by ABDD method for isolated dermatophytes.

Materials and Methods: To test AFST of dermatophytic isolates, following antifungal agents were included in the study. Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Clotrimazol discs were available commertially (HIMEDIA), and Griseofulvin and Terbinafine discs were prepared in laboratory from powders which were obtained from Siemens Company. Dermatophytic isolates were tested for antifungal susceptibility by ABDD method. Strains were reported as sensitive, intermediate and resistant and were reported to dermatologist for further management.

Results & Conclusion: In this study, we found 46 dermatophytic isolates from skin, nail and hair, in which most common pathogenic dermatophyte isolate was T. mentagrophytes (50%), followed by T. rubrum (43.47%), M. gypseum (4.3%) and T. tonsurans (2.1%). AFST was performed by ABDD method which we found quick and easy. All isolates were 100% sensitive Clotrimazole. All isolates of M.gypseum were sensitive to all drugs. All drugs were effective against T.tonsurans except Fluconazole. Approximately 95% strains were sensitive to Griseofulvin. Approximately 90% strains were sensitive to Terbinafine.