Improved methods for isolation and enumeration of Malassezia furfur from human skin

Abstract

A medium for the isolation and enumeration of Malassezia furfur is described. Incubation at 34°C yielded geometric mean counts (in CFU per square centimeter) of 2.6 x 103 on the forehead, 8.5 x 102 on the cheek, and 9.6 x 103 on the back. These counts compared favorably with microscopic counts and greatly exceeded those obtained with previously described media.