dermatophyte – mycolab.ai

Three cases of easy to be misdiagnosed tinea of vellus hair

mycolabadmin

This case report describes three patients (ages 2-24) who had skin infections caused by a fungus called Microsporum canis that initially was misdiagnosed as eczema or other simple skin conditions. The infections involved fine vellus hair and required prolonged combined treatment with both oral and topical antifungal medications to fully resolve. The key lesson is that proper fungal testing and extended treatment similar to scalp ringworm protocols are necessary for treating these easily-missed infections.

A Case of Superficial Mycoses in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

mycolabadmin

A 52-year-old woman with lupus developed a widespread fungal skin infection that was initially mistaken for worsening lupus symptoms. The infection affected her scalp, face, and nails with two different types of fungi. After six months of treatment with antifungal medications, her symptoms resolved completely with no return of the infection during follow-up.

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

mycolabadmin

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

mycolabadmin

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.

Prevalence of Tinea pedis in military personnel: a systematic review and meta-analysis

mycolabadmin

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection affecting the feet that is especially prevalent in military personnel due to their unique living and working conditions. This comprehensive analysis of 25 studies found that about 17% of military personnel worldwide have tinea pedis, with higher rates in hot and humid climates like the Americas and Australia. The infection is promoted by factors such as tight military boots, shared facilities, sweating, and poor foot hygiene. The study recommends better footwear, improved hygiene practices, and more effective diagnostic methods to reduce this health problem in military populations.

Safety and efficacy of the swift microwave device in patients with mild-to-moderate onychomycosis: Protocol of an open-label, randomized, dose-finding pilot study

mycolabadmin

This study evaluates a new microwave device (Swift System) as a potential treatment for fungal nail infections (onychomycosis). The device uses microwave energy to heat and eliminate fungal infections directly at the nail site, avoiding the side effects of oral medications. Researchers tested three different treatment schedules in 39 patients over 12 months to find the most effective dosing approach.

Randomized control trial to study the effectiveness of tablet Fluconazole, capsule Itraconazole and tablet Terbinafine in superficial dermatophytosis

mycolabadmin

This study tested three common antifungal medications used to treat fungal skin infections like ringworm. The research involved 180 patients who were randomly given one of three drugs and then checked at 4 and 8 weeks to see if the infection was gone. Itraconazole worked best, clearing infections in about 87% of patients, followed by Fluconazole at 73%, and Terbinafine at 63%.

Erythema Nodosum Associated with Kerion: A Case Series and Narrative Review of the Literature

mycolabadmin

This paper describes a rare condition where patients develop painful red bumps on the shins (erythema nodosum) as a reaction to a severe scalp fungal infection (kerion) caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The authors reviewed 23 similar cases and found that this reaction usually happens during antifungal treatment and resolves within about a week. Treatment with antifungal medications like griseofulvin, sometimes combined with anti-inflammatory steroids, is effective, though scarring of the scalp may remain.

Antimicrobial effects and mechanisms of hydrogen sulphide against nail pathogens

mycolabadmin

Researchers discovered that hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a small gas molecule, can effectively kill the fungi and bacteria that cause painful nail infections. Unlike current treatments that struggle to penetrate into the nail, hydrogen sulphide easily diffuses through the nail plate. The study found that H2S works by damaging the fungi’s respiratory system and creating harmful reactive oxygen species, while also modifying proteins in a way that disrupts their normal function. This innovative approach could offer patients a new topical treatment option for nail infections that have been difficult to treat with existing medications.

The in vitro Activity of Echinocandins Against Clinical Trichophyton rubrum Isolates and Review of the Susceptibility of T. rubrum to Echinocandins Worldwide

mycolabadmin

Researchers tested how well three antifungal drugs (micafungin, anidulafungin, and caspofungin) work against a common fungus that causes skin infections. They found that two of these drugs were more effective than the third, suggesting they could be helpful alternatives when standard treatments fail due to drug-resistant fungal strains. The study also reviewed similar research worldwide and found consistent results across different testing methods.

Research Keyword: dermatophyte