title: Asymptomatic groin dermatophyte carriage detected during routine gynaecologic examinations.
abstract: We investigated the epidemiological characteristics of both symptomatic and asymptomatic dermatophytic groin infections in 1970 women (age: 36.2 ± 12.5) during routine gynaecologic examinations. Bilateral groin samples were collected with sterile cotton swabs premoistened with sterile physiological saline. The samples were then separately inoculated onto Sabouraud glucose agar. Fungi were identified by sequencing the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region. Dermatophytes were recovered from five patients (four Trichophyton rubrum and one Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii, 0.25%) with a diagnosis of asymptomatic carriers (four) and tinea inguinalis (one). In one case, groin carriage converted into tinea inguinalis after 3 weeks. Analysis of risk factors indicated that patients of at least 49 years were more likely to be positive for dermatophyte isolation (P = 0.002). In conclusion, groin dermatophyte carriage is more common than tinea inguinalis and can potentially convert into a symptomatic infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Umran
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Küçükgöz-Güleç
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gümral
authors.forename: Ahmet B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Güzel
authors.forename: Ghanim
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khatib
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karakaş
authors.forename: Macit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilkit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis*; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077291:Terbinafine; D014005:Tinea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000077291:Terbinafine