J Korean Med Sci.  2016 Feb;31(2):296-300. 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.2.296.

Skin Infection due to Trichophyton tonsurans Still Occurs in People in Korea but not as Outbreaks

• Lee WJ
• Sim HB
• Jang YH
• Lee SJ
• Kim DW
• Jun JB
• Bang YJ

• KMID: 2360056
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2016.31.2.296

Abstract

Since 1995, Trichophyton tonsurans has been one of the causative agents of dermatophytosis in Korea. Herein we evaluate 77 patients infected with T. tonsurans who visited an outpatient clinic between 2004 and 2014. Infections due to T. tonsurans were diagnosed by mycological examination, which included direct microscopic examination using 15% KOH and culture in potato dextrose agar complemented with 0.5% chloramphenicol. The annual prevalence of infection due to T. tonsurans was the highest in 2014 (15 cases) but remained constant in non-gladiators between 2004 and 2014. The ratio of male to female patients was 1:0.3. The spring season presented the highest incidence compared with other seasons, with 27 cases. The incidence of infections due to T. tonsurans among gladiators was highest in spring compared with the other seasons whereas the incidence in non-gladiators was the highest in the winter. The body site most commonly affected was the face. Tinea corporis was the most common subtype of dermatophytosis caused by T. tonsurans. Herein, we demonstrate that the prevalence of infection with T. tonsurans remain constant throughout the study period in Korea.

Keyword

Trichophyton tonsurans; Korea; Epidemiology; Dermatophytosis

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Child
Child, Preschool
Disease Outbreaks
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Seasons
Tinea/*diagnosis/epidemiology/microbiology
Trichophyton/*isolation & purification
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Prevalence of Trichophyton tonsurans between 2004 and 2014. (A) The annual number of patients infected with Trichophyton tonsurans. (B) The annual proportion of Trichophyton tonsurans infection in dermatophytosis.

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  Fig. 2 Age distribution of patients infected with Trichophyton tonsurans.

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  Fig. 3 Seasonal distribution of patients infected with Trichophyton tonsurans.

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  Fig. 4 Topographical distribution of Trichophyton tonsurans. (A) The number of patients according to the subtype of dermatophytosis. (B) The number of patients according to infection mode in each subtype of dermatophytosis.

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  Fig. 5 Distribution of patients infected with Trichophyton tonsurans according to infection mode.

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