Performance evaluation of rapid test potassium hydroxide for the diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the potassium hydroxide (KOH) sensitivity for the diagnosis of fungal nail infections. Study Design: Descriptive Case study. Setting: Department of Quaid-e-Azam Medical College Bahawalpur. Period: July 2017 to June 2020. Material & Method: The nail specimen immersed in 20% Potassium hydroxide in Petri dish and incubated aerobically at 37Ć for 1 hours. Upon microscopy, the presence of hyphae or spores that considered the test was positive. Result: Out of three hundred forty clinical screened cases, the sensitivity of KOH mount was 55.29% true positive. Conclusion: KOH mount microscopy is simple and cost-effective techniques to diagnose superficial fungal infections in the primary care and Outpatient settings.