Pattern of Dermatological Fungal Infections in Northern Pakistan

The study was carried out to determine the types and prevalence of dermatophytes from the clinical specimens received at the Department of Microbiology Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, Pakistan. A total of 400 different clinical specimens received for the fungal culture were dealt during the study period. After direct microscopy with potassium hydroxide, they were inoculated on Sabouraud's dextrose agar with and without antimicrobials. Out of total specimens, 221 yielded fungal growth. Dermatophytes were isolated in 123 specimens. The overall yield of dermatophytes from different specimens was in the order of nail (78%), followed by skin (18.3%) and hair (3.3%). Among dermatophytes Trichophyton interdigitale was most common isolate from nail while Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the most common isolate from skin and hair. In conclusion mycological infections have growing importance and early diagnosis by proper investigative approach combined with systemic antifungal therapy optimizes the treatment outcome.