tinea cruris – mycolab.ai

Climate Change, Natural Disasters, and Cutaneous Fungal Infections

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Climate change and natural disasters are creating conditions that allow fungal infections to spread more easily and affect people in new ways. Warmer temperatures help fungi adapt to infect humans, while floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes expose people to fungal spores and create wounds through which infections can enter. Doctors need to be alert for unusual fungal infections after disasters, especially since some of these infections can cause serious complications and resist common treatments.

Emerging antifungal resistance in Trichophyton mentagrophytes: insights from susceptibility profiling and genetic mutation analysis

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This study examined how common skin fungal infections caused by Trichophyton species are becoming resistant to standard antifungal treatments. Researchers tested 131 fungal isolates from China and analyzed their resistance genes to understand why some strains no longer respond to terbinafine and other antifungal drugs. They found that certain genetic mutations, particularly in the SQLE gene, make these fungi resistant to treatment and that different species have different resistance patterns. These findings help doctors better choose treatments and guide the development of new antifungal medications.

Emergence of resistant dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton indotineae: First case series in Thailand

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Researchers in Thailand have identified five patients with a difficult-to-treat fungal skin infection caused by Trichophyton indotineae, a type of dermatophyte that resists the commonly used antifungal drug terbinafine. This is the first time this resistant fungus has been detected in Thailand. The team developed a simple, inexpensive test using urease to help identify these resistant infections more easily. Patients responded well to the antifungal drug itraconazole after other treatments failed.

Spread of Antifungal-Resistant Trichophyton indotineae, United Kingdom, 2017–2024

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A fungal infection called Trichophyton indotineae, which originated in Asia, is rapidly spreading throughout the United Kingdom and becoming resistant to common antifungal treatments. The infection typically starts in the groin area and can spread to other parts of the body, and many cases fail to respond to standard antifungal drugs like terbinafine. Researchers tracked 157 cases over seven years and found the fungus now accounts for over a third of all dermatophyte infections sent to the UK reference laboratory. Doctors and laboratory professionals are being urged to recognize this emerging threat and consider better diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Trichophyton indotineae Infection, São Paulo, Brazil, 2024

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A businessman from São Paulo, Brazil contracted a difficult-to-treat fungal skin infection caused by Trichophyton indotineae, which is resistant to the common antifungal drug terbinafine. After terbinafine failed to help over 9 weeks, doctors switched him to itraconazole, which worked well after 8 weeks. Genetic testing showed his fungal strain had a specific resistance mutation and was most similar to a strain from Germany, suggesting he may have caught it while traveling in Europe.

Emergence of resistant dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton indotineae: First case series in Thailand

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Researchers in Thailand identified five patients with a new type of fungal skin infection caused by Trichophyton indotineae, a species that resists the common antifungal drug terbinafine. These infections appeared as rashes on various parts of the body and required treatment with alternative medications like itraconazole. The findings represent the first confirmed cases in Thailand and suggest this resistant fungus may be spreading globally. The study also showed that a simple urease test could help doctors identify this resistant strain quickly without waiting for complex genetic testing.

Superficial Fungal Infections in Children—What Do We Know?

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Superficial fungal infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot are common in children and are caused by fungi, yeasts, or molds that spread through contact with infected people, animals, or contaminated surfaces. These infections primarily affect the scalp, skin, and nails, with scalp infections being most common in young children. Treatment typically uses topical creams for mild cases or oral medications for more severe infections, particularly those affecting nails or the scalp. Proper hygiene, avoiding contaminated areas, and limiting contact with infected individuals or animals are key to prevention.

PCR enables rapid detection of dermatophytes in practice

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This study shows that a new rapid DNA-based test (PCR) is much faster and more effective than traditional methods for diagnosing fungal skin, hair, and nail infections. While traditional culture methods took about 19 days to get results, the new PCR test gives results in just 16 hours. The PCR test detected more infections and is now the preferred diagnostic method in Northern Finland, helping doctors treat patients more quickly and avoid unnecessary antifungal medications.

Spread of Antifungal-Resistant Trichophyton indotineae, United Kingdom, 2017–2024

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A dangerous fungal infection called Trichophyton indotineae is rapidly spreading across the United Kingdom, particularly among people with connections to South Asia. This infection causes stubborn skin rashes that don’t respond well to common antifungal treatments like terbinafine. The number of cases has skyrocketed, making up 38% of all dermatophyte infections by 2024, and doctors need to be aware of this emerging threat.

Clinico-mycological study of superficial mycoses and correlation with anti-fungal susceptibility among the Candida isolates in a teaching institution of Western India

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This study examined fungal skin infections in 330 patients in Western India, identifying which fungi cause these infections and which antifungal drugs work best. Researchers found that Candida yeasts were especially common in nail infections while Trichophyton fungi were more common in skin infections. The antifungal drug caspofungin was most effective against Candida, while the commonly used drug fluconazole showed increasing resistance.

Disease: tinea cruris