Profile of Dermatophytes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study in a Government Setup in Urban South Kerala, India Nation

Introduction: Recently, there has been a change in the spectrum of dermatophytosis, shifting from Trichophyton rubrum, which was previously the most common species, to the more drug-resistant and chronic Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Although there have been several recent studies on dermatophytosis,...

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Main Authors: Lakshmi Nandakumar, Manjusree Suresh, Sabeena Jayapalan, O Sasikumari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd. 2025-04-01
Series:National Journal of Laboratory Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.njlm.net/articles/PDF/2914/74838_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(AN_KR)_PF1(AG_KR)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdf
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author Lakshmi Nandakumar
Manjusree Suresh
Sabeena Jayapalan
O Sasikumari
author_facet Lakshmi Nandakumar
Manjusree Suresh
Sabeena Jayapalan
O Sasikumari
author_sort Lakshmi Nandakumar
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Recently, there has been a change in the spectrum of dermatophytosis, shifting from Trichophyton rubrum, which was previously the most common species, to the more drug-resistant and chronic Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Although there have been several recent studies on dermatophytosis, the majority have focused on clinical presentation and histopathological features. Therefore, a study that focuses on the current trends in species of dermatophytes causing infection and their antifungal susceptibility is the need of the hour. The treatment options can be tailored accordingly and newer options can be considered. Aim: To determine the proportion of different species of dermatophytes affecting patients attending the Dermatology Outpatient Department (OPD) at a tertiary care centre in Kerala and to assess the antifungal susceptibility of the isolates to Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Terbinafine. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted over a period of one year at the Department of Microbiology at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala, India. Data collection for the study commenced in July 2018 and concluded in June 2019. The study included all patients attending the dermatology OPD with clinically suspected dermatophytosis during the study period. Specimens of skin, hair and nails were collected. Direct examination was performed using 10% Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) for skin and hair samples and 40% KOH for nail samples. Identification was achieved through culture on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA) and Dermatophyte Test Medium (DTM). Antifungal susceptibility testing was conducted using Broth Microdilution testing (BMD). Results: A total of 270 samples were collected. Of these, 53 (19.6%) were culture positive. Among the isolates, 40 (75.47%) were T. mentagrophytes, 7 (13.21%) were T. rubrum and only 6 (11.32%) were Microsporum gypseum. For T. mentagrophytes, antifungal susceptibility testing revealed the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranges of 1-8 μg/mL, 0.031-0.25 μg/mL and 0.031-0.5 μg/mL for Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Terbinafine, respectively. Other species also exhibited a similar pattern of susceptibility. Conclusions: In the present study, T. mentagrophytes was found to be the predominant species, followed by T. rubrum. Itraconazole was identified as the most effective drug according to antifungal susceptibility testing.
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spelling doaj-art-1614027b8dec422181fe8b7a5a9c4e8f2025-08-20T03:32:55ZengJCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd.National Journal of Laboratory Medicine2277-85512455-68822025-04-0114MO06MO1110.7860/NJLM/2025/74838.2914Profile of Dermatophytes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study in a Government Setup in Urban South Kerala, India NationLakshmi Nandakumar0Manjusree Suresh1Sabeena Jayapalan2O Sasikumari3Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, India.Additional Professor, Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.Additional Professor, Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Idukki, Kerala, India.Introduction: Recently, there has been a change in the spectrum of dermatophytosis, shifting from Trichophyton rubrum, which was previously the most common species, to the more drug-resistant and chronic Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Although there have been several recent studies on dermatophytosis, the majority have focused on clinical presentation and histopathological features. Therefore, a study that focuses on the current trends in species of dermatophytes causing infection and their antifungal susceptibility is the need of the hour. The treatment options can be tailored accordingly and newer options can be considered. Aim: To determine the proportion of different species of dermatophytes affecting patients attending the Dermatology Outpatient Department (OPD) at a tertiary care centre in Kerala and to assess the antifungal susceptibility of the isolates to Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Terbinafine. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted over a period of one year at the Department of Microbiology at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala, India. Data collection for the study commenced in July 2018 and concluded in June 2019. The study included all patients attending the dermatology OPD with clinically suspected dermatophytosis during the study period. Specimens of skin, hair and nails were collected. Direct examination was performed using 10% Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) for skin and hair samples and 40% KOH for nail samples. Identification was achieved through culture on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA) and Dermatophyte Test Medium (DTM). Antifungal susceptibility testing was conducted using Broth Microdilution testing (BMD). Results: A total of 270 samples were collected. Of these, 53 (19.6%) were culture positive. Among the isolates, 40 (75.47%) were T. mentagrophytes, 7 (13.21%) were T. rubrum and only 6 (11.32%) were Microsporum gypseum. For T. mentagrophytes, antifungal susceptibility testing revealed the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranges of 1-8 μg/mL, 0.031-0.25 μg/mL and 0.031-0.5 μg/mL for Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Terbinafine, respectively. Other species also exhibited a similar pattern of susceptibility. Conclusions: In the present study, T. mentagrophytes was found to be the predominant species, followed by T. rubrum. Itraconazole was identified as the most effective drug according to antifungal susceptibility testing.https://www.njlm.net/articles/PDF/2914/74838_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(AN_KR)_PF1(AG_KR)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdffluconazoleitraconazoletrichophyton
spellingShingle Lakshmi Nandakumar
Manjusree Suresh
Sabeena Jayapalan
O Sasikumari
Profile of Dermatophytes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study in a Government Setup in Urban South Kerala, India Nation
National Journal of Laboratory Medicine
fluconazole
itraconazole
trichophyton
title Profile of Dermatophytes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study in a Government Setup in Urban South Kerala, India Nation
title_full Profile of Dermatophytes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study in a Government Setup in Urban South Kerala, India Nation
title_fullStr Profile of Dermatophytes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study in a Government Setup in Urban South Kerala, India Nation
title_full_unstemmed Profile of Dermatophytes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study in a Government Setup in Urban South Kerala, India Nation
title_short Profile of Dermatophytes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study in a Government Setup in Urban South Kerala, India Nation
title_sort profile of dermatophytes and antifungal susceptibility pattern a cross sectional descriptive study in a government setup in urban south kerala india nation
topic fluconazole
itraconazole
trichophyton
url https://www.njlm.net/articles/PDF/2914/74838_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(AN_KR)_PF1(AG_KR)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdf
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