Hypotension Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hypotension, including details on low blood pressure, blood volume, symptoms, treatment.

Comparison of diagnostic methods in the diagnosis of dermatomycoses and onychomycoses.

Panasiti V, Borroni RG, Devirgiliis V, Rossi M, Fabbrizio L, Masciangelo R, Bottoni U, Calvieri S

Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. ilcapo75@gmx.net

Direct microscopic examination of potassium hydroxide (KOH)-prepared specimens is the simplest, cheapest method used for the diagnosis of mycotic infections of the skin. However, KOH preparations have been reported to have 5-15% of false-negative results, possibly because of the low visibility of scant, scattered fungal material of the nail scrapings and because the detection of fungal elements depends on the skill of the observer [Arch Dermatol133 (1997) 1317; Clin Microbiol Rev8 (1995) 240]. We compared two different KOH-based staining methods in order to obtain reliable results in shorter time than expected for cultures. A total of 124 patients with suspect diagnosis of dermatomycosis or onychomycosis were enrolled. Two scrapings from the same lesion of each patient were stained with KOH-Chlorazole and KOH-Acridine Orange (AO), respectively; cultural examination of the same specimen was considered as diagnostic gold standard. The two methods showed neither significantly different sensitivity nor specificity; however, for onychomycoses, we observed a slightly higher sensitivity for KOH-Chlorazole and a higher specificity for KOH-AO. We suggest the use of both techniques in order to improve detection of fungal infection, especially for onychomycoses.

Published 21 December 2005 in Mycoses, 49(1): 26-9.
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