title: How to teach the potassium hydroxide preparation: a disappearing clinical art form.
abstract: Using potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparations in the diagnosis of superficial fungal infections is a technique that has been handed down from teacher to apprentice for more than 100 years. The technique is simple, accurate, and inexpensive; however, there is reason to believe it is falling to the wayside in favor of empiric treatment, especially in primary care settings. To continue the use of this valuable diagnostic aid, a system of teaching the KOH preparation to the next generation of physicians (ie, medical students, residents) is proposed with emphasis on facilitating the process by storing viable skin samples infected with dermatophytes for long periods of time. This technique obviates the need to find suitably infected patients before each teaching laboratory. This technique also is appropriate to refresh the skills of practicing physicians as they prepare for point-of-care testing assessments.
authors.forename: Bart D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Wilkison
authors.forename: Leonard C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Sperling
authors.forename: Anne P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Spillane
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. jon.meyerle@usuhs.edu.
authors.forename: Jon H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Meyerle
mesh_terms: D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000193:education; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013337:Students, Medical
chemical_list: D006878:Hydroxides; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D017680:Potassium Compounds; C029943:potassium hydroxide