A simple quantitative culture of Malassezia spp. in HIV-positive persons.
BACKGROUND
Etiological role of Malassezia spp. remains controversial in certain skin diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To adapt a 'tape method' for quantitative culture of Malassezia spp.


METHODS
Samples for culture were taken from clinically normal forehead skin of HIV-positive and negative persons by stripping with a tape that was then placed on Leeming & Notman medium. The number of colonies was counted after 14 days.


RESULTS
74/78 (94.8%) cultures were positive, for a median count of 9 CFU/tape (range 0 to > 200). High skin density of Malassezia spp., defined as more than 100 CFU/tape, was found in 7/38 (18.4%) HIV-positive persons and was absent (0/40) in the HIV-negative group (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The method used is simple, unexpensive and reliable. High Malassezia spp. density was only found in HIV-positive patients.
Pechère
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland.
Remondat
C
C
Bertrand
C
C
Didierjean
L
L
Saurat
J H
JH
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D005546:Forehead; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008290:Malassezia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009172:Mycology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*
D003470:Culture Media