ABSTRACT
Background: Dermatophytes affects more than 30% of the population, usually as superficial mycosis but also present as deeper subcutaneous tissue infection in rare occasions. Because of ambiguous clinical presentations of dermatophytosis need to diagnose accurately to avoid mismanagement. The present study was selected to know the significance of KOH (Potassium Hydroxide) in diagnosis of dermatophytosis and to compare Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) with Dermatophytes Test Medium (DTM) in isolation of dermatophytes. Methods: A total of 124 patients were included in this study who was diagnosed as clinically suspected dermatophytosis at Department of DVL. Samples were collected and inoculated in to Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with Chloramphenicol and Cycloheximide, Dermatophytes Test Medium and also KOH mount was done. Results: Out of 124 clinically suspected dermatophytosis studied population, 78 (62.9%) were culture positive. Tinea corporis (29.4%) was affected predominantly followed by Tinea cruris (21.7%) and Tinea capitis (17.9%). On correlation of culture positivity with KOH microscopy, 15 patients (12.09%) were culture positive and KOH negative. 12 (9.6%) patients out of 124 were KOH positive and culture negative. The isolation rate in this study from SDA was 93.5% and that of DTM was 100%. On comparing of dermatophytes isolation from clinical samples among DTM and SDA, shown statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion: KOH gives rapid probable diagnosis to start empirical therapy, lesser sensitive than culture media. Both SDA and DTM gives good isolation results, where as DTM is superior than SDA in isolation and aid in easy interpretation.