Pattern of Dermatophytes Isolated in the Medical Microbiology Laboratory of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Dermatophytoses are the most common dermatological conditions but they are however not life threatening or debilitating hence medical care is sought usually due to aesthetic reasons and chronicity of the lesions despite several self-medications. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution pattern of dermatophytes isolated in the medical microbiology laboratory of University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital (UPTH). This is a 5-year desk review of the Dermatophytes isolated in the medical microbiology laboratory of UPTH. Relevant Patients’ data were retrieved and analyzed. A total of seventy (70) dermatophytes were isolated over the five-year period as follows: Trichophyton species accounted for 55 (79%), Epidermophyton species were 8 (11%) and Microsporum species 7 (10%). The peak age range of patients from which dermatophytes were isolated was 31 - 40 years with a male to female ratio of 1:1.7. The majority of patients being 49 (70%) were referred from the dermatology outpatient clinic (DOPC) and the most frequent clinical diagnosis was Tinea corporis. Trichophyton species were the commonest cause of dermatophytoses in adult patients in Port Harcourt where the most common clinical presentation was Tinea corporis.