A Comparison Of Cfw Stain, Koh And Culture For The Laboratory Diagnosis Of Superficial Mycoses

The purpose of this study was to compare KOH, culture and CFW stain in the diagnosis of superficial mycoses and to determine their sensitivity, specificity and predictive value. Clinically diagnosed 100 superficial fungal infection cases (males 56 and Female 44) age ranged 25 to 55yrs formed the study group. This is in collaboration with department of Dermatology, Victoria Hospital Bangalore. The study was conducted in Microbiology department AIMS BG Nagara. Samples from skin, nail and hair were collected as per individual symptomotology. Samples were processed using CFW stain, KOH and culture. Result: Of the 100 cases, T.corporis (62) was the commonest clinical type followed by T.cruris(14), onycomycoses(12), T.versicolor(5), T.pedis(4), T.capitis (2) and T.faceie(1). KOH was positive in 82, culture in 78 and CFW in 84 case. Culture isolates were dermatophytes in 64 (82.05%) and yeast like fungi in 14 (17.94%). T.rubrum (64.06%) was the commonest followed by T.gypseum (17.18%), T.mentagrophyte(14.06%), T.tonsurans(1.56%), T.canis(1.56%), and T.violaceum (1.56 %). Among the yeast like fungi isolates were Candida spp (78.57%) and Malssisia furfur (21.42%). Discussion and Conclusion: Considering culture as gold standard, KOH showed sensitivity of 95.12%, specificity 73.33%, PPV 90.69 NPV 84.61 and CFW stain showed sensitivity of 100%, specificity 78.57, PPV 92.85, NPV 100. CFW stain has the advantage compared to KOH and culture, being rapid (30-60sec), simple, reliable, easy visibility at low power, with high sensitivity and specificity and inexpensive if fluorescent microscope is available in the laboratory.