Abstract

A mycological investigation of skin scrappings, blood and aspirates from apparent clinical cases of cutaneous infection involving 100 patients was made. All samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) for three weeks. A total of 27(43.5%) and 18(29.0%) fungi and yeasts respectively were isolated from the skin. Blood cultures yielded 8(9.9%) yeast species only from the patients while culture of aspirates showed more growths of yeasts (2 isolates) than filamentous fungi (1 isolate). The following dermatophytes and filamentous fungi were isolated from the skin: Microsporum ferrugineum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. verrucosum and T. schoenleinii; A. fumigatus , A. niger, A. flavus and Penicillium species. Trichophyton mentagrophytes had the highest occurrence (50%) while Microsprum ferrugineum and Trichophyton verrucosum were least in occurrence(9.1%) each. Five yeast species, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, Rhodorulla species and Torulopsis species were also isolated from skin lesions. Torulopsis species was the most occurring yeast whereas Candida krusei and Rhodotorulla species showed the lowest occurrence (5.6%) each. Torulopsis species and Candida tropicalis were recovered from blood and aspirate of patients. Prevalence of fungi and yeast was similar in male and female patients. Fungi and yeast are involved in skin diseases.