Dermatophyte Infections

Dermatophytes are a group of fungi specialised to invade skin, hair and nail. Species have evolved and become adapted to certain hosts, so infections can be anthropophilic, zoophilic or geophilic in origin. Certain species cause infection worldwide, such as Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale, while other species may be associated with infection in particular regions. For example, tinea capitis is commonly caused by Trichophyton violaceum in the Indian continent and has been reported in Europe associated with travel to and from this region. Of concern is the increase in reports of terbinafine-resistant tinea corporis due to a member of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes species complex, which were first reported in India and has been reported in several countries in Europe mostly in patients with a travel history to India.