ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND : Superficial mycosis has been recognized as a common fungal condition worldwide, including India. It refers to fungal infection of skin and its appendages. AIM & OBJECTIVES : 1) To determine the frequency of fungal agents isolated from clinically suspected cases of superficial mycoses, in a tertiary health care hospital. 2) To access the risk factors associated with it. 3) To analyse the demographic profile associated with superficial mycosis. MATERIAL & METHODS: The prospective study was carried out, over a period of 12 months (January 2021 to December 2021), samples such as skin scarping, hair plugs and nail clipping obtained from patients were submitted to Department of Microbiology for the fungal etiology. Samples were subjected to direct microscopy by KOH mount and fungal culture as per standard convectional technique. RESULTS: A total of 63 clinically suspected cases of superficial mycosis were enrolled in the study. Among the isolates recovered the most common were Dermatophytes(41.26%) followed by Candida(14.28%), Aspergillus(6.3%), Mucor(3.1%) and remaining 23.80% were sterile. Among the Dermatophytes, T.rubrum 42.30% was the predominant pathogen followed by T.mentagrophytes 34.61%. The most common age group affected was 21-40 years of age with male predominance of male to female ratio of 1.5:1. Out of total of 48 samples of superficial mycosis 26 were positive by direct microscopy and 48 samples were positive both by microscopy and culture. Most of the positive cases were recovered from immunocompromised individuals suffering from diabetes (37.5%) followed by prolonged antibiotic therapy (25.02%), long steroid therapy (12.5%) and chemotherapeutic agents (10.41%). The cases were mainly seen in the months between April to July which correlates the infection with the humid season. CONCLUSION: The study pinpointed dermatophytes as the most common clinical pattern of superficial mycosis with a male predominance. Dermatophytic infection is one of the emerging fungal disease along with non dermatophytic molds, especially in immunocompromised individuals prompt treatment and management can herald the onset of ensuing complications, thereby limiting the morbidity and thus improving the quality of life.