Abstract
Background: The term "dermatophytosis" describes a superficial keratinized tissue fungal infection brought on by dermatophytes. Dermatophytes do not infiltrate deeper anatomical areas; they exclusively colonise the suprafollicular regions of hair or the cornified layer of the epidermis. Dermatophytosis is not life threatening or disabling, but it can be bothersome and persistent, and it is frequently mistaken for other skin conditions. Therefore, laboratory tests are crucial for accurate diagnosis, management, and cost reduction.
Objective: Isolation and identification of the dermatophytes as well as examining the clinico-mycological characteristics of dermatophytosis.
Materials and Procedures: For 130 clinically suspected cases of Dermatophytosis, samples including skin scrapings, nail clippings, hair, and hair stubs were analyzed. All of the samples was observed under the KOH mount and SDA culture..
Results: The vast majority of the patients, 76 men (58.46%), exceeded the women, 54 (41.53%). 20–30 year olds are the most frequently impacted age group. With 66 (50.76%) cases, tinea corporis was the most common kind, followed by tinea cruris (25.23%), tinea unguium (13.84%), and tinea capitis (07.69%). Trichophyton mentagrophytes (16.85%), Microsporum audouinii (15.42%), Microsporum gypseum 08(11.43%), Trichophyton violaceum 03(4.28%), and Epidermophyton floccosum 01(1.43%) were the next most common isolates, with 27 cases (38.57%) each. Trichophyton rubrum was the most common isolate.
Conclusion: Infections with dermatophytes are particularly prevalent in our country because of the hot, humid weather, unfavourable hygienic conditions, and other factors. In different regions of India, distinct species are more or less isolated from one another. Trichophyton rubrum was the most common species, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum audouinii.

Key words: Dermatophytosis, Dermatophytes, Tinea, Trichophyton, Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LPCB)