For additional information, particularly about fungal species mentioned in the subsequent text, also refer to the paperback, Medically Important Fungi: A Guide to Identification by Larone.
Superficial Infections

Cellular response of host usually absent - no pathology elicited by fungus

  1. Organism remote from living tissue (primarily in the stratum corneum - compact dead layer of skin).
  2. Infection is insignificant and ignored by bodies defenses.
Identification accomplished several ways
  1. Visual Inspection
  2. Wood's lamp - U.V. lamp to look for presence of fluorescence.
  3. Scraping off cells onto a slide and clearing tissue with 10% KOH and flaming the slide.  Look for fungal tissue (e.g., mycelial fragments, yeast cells, spores).  These slides are not permanent because the KOH causes cells to breakdown over time - too caustic!
  4. Stripping tape - Scotch tape is pulled of skin, mounted on a slide,  and stained with crystal violet, methylene blue, or iodine.
  5. Isolation and subculturing of fungus.

OTOMYCOSIS

 

Fungal Growth in the Ear Canal


Fungal Growth in Culture (Aspergillus niger)

             l


Scopulariopsis, (S. brevicaulis)


Penicillium


Mucor 

    

Rhizopus



PIEDRA     White piedra (Trichosporon beigelii)

    Black piedra (Piedraia hortae or P. hortai - Refer to Figures 34-36 on page 53 in the textbook)

Identification Both types of piedra are easy to treat!

PITYRIASIS VERSICOLOR

 

  Treatment



TINEA NIGRA          Treatment - readily treated, over several weeks

 


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