Dermatophyte Fungi:Infections, Diagnosis and Treatment

Problems: Dermatophyte fungi are keratinophilic pathogenic fungi which lead to superficial mycotic infection of dermatophytosis.

Experimental approach: Dermatophytosis refers to three main genera of Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Trichophyton which are distributed around the world. Therefore, the infection of Tinea (dermatophytosis) is one of the most important superficial infections worldwide. Dermatophytes may lead to acute or chronic diseases with high morbidity but not mortality.

Findings: The pattern of several forms of dermatophytoses are the same in Iran and worldwide. Today, there are two main diagnostic methods of traditional and advanced molecular techniques.

Conclusion: The rapidity, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of diagnostic methods are important parameters to have a definitive treatment. In this mini review we tried to have an overview of dermatophyte fungi, dermatophytosis, appropriate diagnostic methods and treatment.