Opportunistic Fungal Complex as Causal Organism for Skin Mycoses in Humans

Abstract

Opportunistic fungal pathogens are soil inhabiting species where they live as saprobes but they become pathogenic when the immune system of the host is compromised or suppressed. In the present investigation a case study was carried out on a 65 years old patient suffering from acute skin infection in the lower part of the leg, case profile of the patient was recorded with various parameters such as   age, occupation, medical case history etc. ITS region was used for molecular characterization of the fungal complex suspected to be causing superficial mycosis. With the emergence of fungi that are resistant to many of the anti fungal drugs available, identification of the significant clinical isolates is important as delays in the initiation of appropriate therapy often correlates with poor outcome. Based on the molecular studies the fungal complex was identified to be consisting of five species viz. Aspergillus flavus, Emericella nidulans, Epicoccum sp, Epicoccum nigrum, and Pestalotiopsis sp. It has therefore, become essential to have rapid and accurate methods for identification of fungi that can easily be implemented in a routine diagnostic microbiology laboratory for guiding early appropriate therapy and prevent mortality.