title: [Mycological laboratory].
abstract: The clinical presentation of fungal infections of the skin, hair, or nails may be varied and confusing. To avoid delays in treatment and early spread of the infection, adequate diagnostics are necessary. This requires both the clinical expertise of the physicians as well as the capability to perform various laboratory tests. Classical methods are based on microscopy, different culture procedures, and histological examination. Genotypic approaches for the detection and identification of fungal pathogens have improved the speed and accuracy of laboratory diagnosis in the last few years, although further evaluation using molecular biology-based methods should be routinely applied in practice.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Frauenlobstrasse 9-11, 80337, München. barbara.beifuss@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beifuss
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borelli
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Korting
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002179:Candidiasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D014005:Tinea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents