Etiological analysis of pathogenic fungi in superficial clinical specimens

Objective To investigate the etiological characteristics of fungal pathogens in patients with superficialmycoses.Methods A total of 1 948 clinical specimens were examined directly under microscopy, and/or by culture(inoculated upon Sabouraud's glucose agar or other special medium). All isolated strains were identified by their characteristic micromorphology and morphologic forms of colonies.Results Approximately 18 genera,36 species of fungi strains were isolated from 783 culture positive clinical specimens. These group of fungi included 473 stains of filamentous fungi (60.41), 308 stains of yeast (39.34).Trichophyton rubrum,T.mentagrophytes and Candida albicans among isolated strains were 24.52, 16.48 and 12.64, respectively. Clinical specimens received microscopy and culture, or both direct microscopic examination and culture gave positive results as 53.41, 40.28 and 66.98, respectively.Conclusions In light of these data,compared with single microscopic examination or culture,microscopic examination combinated with culture has a higher sensitivity. Our findings indicate that Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes are still the most important etiological fungi, though superficial infection of Candida albicans and other yeasts has a elevated incidence.