الفهرس 
CUTANEOUS FUNGAL INFECTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Fungi are native inhabitants of soil and water and some species behave as opportunistic pathogens in man. They are ubiquitous and no geographical area or any group of people is spared by these organisms.
Superficial fungal infections of the skin are among the most common diseases seen in our daily practice. These infections affect the outer layers of the skin, the nails and hairs
Superficial fungal infections of the skin and its appendages can be caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and non-dermatophytes. The yeasts and moulds now rank amongst the 10 most frequently isolated pathogens among patients in Intensive Care Units.
Fungi, like all living things, are recognized and identified on the basis of their shapes, structures and their behavioral properties. Fungi that exist predominantly in the form of independent single cells are usually called yeasts while those based on hyphal threads are called moulds (i.e. hyphal fungi). Hyphae and yeast are nearly always microscopic cell forms. A complex of hyphal strands, hyphal branches and any associated spore-bearing structure is known as a mycelium.
The aim of this thesis was to determine the prevalence of non dermatophytic fungi in interdigital tinea pedis.
A total of 50 patients attending the Out Patient Dermatology Clinic of Ain Shams University Hospital, suspected to have tinea pedis were include in this study.
For each patien full history taking, physical examination were done. Mycological examination followed by cultures on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), with chloramphenicol and SDA with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide (Dermasil), was done.
Identification of dermatophytes was done by macroscopic examination for type of growth, surface and reverse color. Microscopic examination by modification of hyphae, macroconidia and microconidia then cultured on differentiation media, Bromocresol media.
Identification was done for nondermatophyte moulds according to macro and micro-morphological characters.
Identification of the yeast was done by macro and micro morphological examination as well as culture on Chromogenic agar candida (Oxoid).
Fifty subjects participated in this study were positive culture reported in 46 cases (92%) and negative in 4 (8%).
The fungal isolates were identified in 17 (34%) as demratophytes, 27 (54%) as yeasts and 2 (4%) as non-dematophyte moulds (Table 4). The dermatophytes were identified into 9 (18%) as T. mentagrophytes and 8 (16%) as T. rubrum. Identification of 27 yeast isolates showed 22 (44%) Candida species, 5 (10%) Trichosporon species. Further identification of Candida species revealed 20 (40%) C.albican, 2 (4%) C.parapsilosis.
Concerning the non dermatophytes moulds, the identification revealed 1 (2%) Fusarium and one (2%) S.brevicaulis.
There are significant relations between isolated fungi and sex, age, duration of disease, DM patients, occupation and previous treatment with recurrence.
Fifty subjects participated in this study were 13 male (26%), 37 female (74%). Both were well matched as regards gender (P=0.962) and the mean age of patients was 39.5 ± 12.19 years (range: 20.0 – 65 years). They were well matched as regards age (P=0 .452) (Table 6).
Mean duration of disease was 6.82 ± 5.78 years ( P=0.421). There were 9 patients (18%) with well controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus, No patient had advanced peripheral vascular or cardiac disease, venous stasis or leg ulcer (P=0.243).
Seventeen Females patients were housewives, others 20 females and males had various occupations (P=0.384).
There were 42 (84%) patients who had been treated with various topical antifungals more than 3 months prior to recruitment. These treatments had been unsuccessful or of limited value.
In all patients, a right fourth toe-web was involved in 24 patients (48%) and left fourth toe-web was involved in 30 patients (60%). A right third web was also involved in 2 patients (4%) and left third web was also involved in 5 patients (10%) in that group, 1 patient also had involvement of a left second toe-web and 1 patient also had involvement of a left first toe-web.
On conclusion, the non dermatophyte fungi shared as causal fungi of tinea pedis which should be receive more attention.