Spectrum of Superficial and Deep Fungal Isolates in Northern Pakistan

Abstract

Fungi are an important cause of superficial and deep infections in our population. Lack of expertise in proper identification and inadequate diagnostic facilities often lead to underreporting of these infections and thus underestimation of true disease burden. This study was conducted at Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January 2011 through December 2013. Samples included specimen collected from superficial and deep tissues, respiratory tract specimen, blood, bone marrow and other body fluids. Skin (35.1%) and nail (10.2%) samples were the most common specimens from superficial body sites. Tissue specimens from various body organs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were the predominant specimens received for investigation of deep seated fungal infections, contributing 34.9% and 5.9% of the total specimens respectively. Yeasts were isolated from 75(22.6%) samples; different species of Candida accounted for majority of the isolates. Growth of molds was detected in 257(77.4%) samples with Aspergillus spp. accounting for 149 (44.9%) of the isolates. Among dermatophytes, Trichophyton interdigitale 13(3.9%) was the most common isolate. Moulds other than dermatophytes were also isolated from skin, hair and nail samples and Alternaria alternata (4.8%) was the most common non-dermatophyte isolated from these sites. Fungal infections and their spectrum varies considerably in different geographical locations and in all cases not responding to antibiotics and high risk groups, a possibility of fungal cause should be sought.