Background:Tinea capitis is a superficial fungal infection that predominantly affects the pediatric population. The etiological factors vary from region to region, and the exact incidence remains obscure. The clinicoepidemiological and mycological aspects of this dermatophytosis were studied in a tertiary care centre in Kashmir valley.Aim:To determine the clinicoepidemiological aspects and mycological findings of dermatophytes involved in tinea capitis cases in Kashmir valley.Materials and Methods:Wood's lamp examination, KOH examination, and fungal culture were performed in one hundred fifty clinically diagnosed cases of tinea capitis with patients’ age upto 14 years over a period of 6 months. The epidemiological factors associated with the disease were also evaluated.Results:Tinea capitis was predominant in the 3–6 and 6–9 years age groups with a male preponderance. Grey patch tinea capitis was the most common variant. KOH positivity was 76%, and Trichophyton tonsurans was the most common fungal isolate.Conclusion:Tinea capitis is a very common fungal infection in our setting. Early detection and diagnosis is mandatory to prevent its spread in the community as well as the development of scarring alopecia in the affected individual.

Background: Dermatophyte infections are a global health problem but very neglected in Kashmir. India. This work aimed at determining prevalence and spectrum of dermatophytosis isolated from patients attending tertiary care hospital Srinagar. Kashmir.Methods: A total of 510 samples of skin, hair and nail scrapings were collected and processed using standard microscopy (KOH) and cultural methods as per the standard protocol.Results: Out of 510 samples collected, 272 (53.33%) patients were confirmed cases of dermatophytosis (confirmed clinically and on fungal culture). The prevalence of dermatophytosis was significantly associated with age groups of participants with higher infection among those aged 18-32 which accounted for 35.29%, followed by age group 1-17 with 30.14%. Out of 510 samples, 110 ( 21.56%) were both KOH (microscopy) and culture positive, 162 (31.76%) cases were only culture positive and 130 (25.49%) clinical samples were only positive for fungal elements on microscopy. 133 (26.07%) fungal isolates were obtained which included both dermatophyte and non-dermatophytic fungi(excluded in this study). T. mentagrophytes had highest distribution 40.44% among dermatophytes species and T. Unguium 114 (41.96%) accounted for most common site for dermatophytic infections. Poor hygiene was predominant risk factor in 143 cases (52.57%). Patients from lower socioeconomic status were affected more than others (34.92%).Conclusions: In this study we have focused to determine the prevalence, clinical pattern and pathogenic profile of dermatophytosis according to the age, gender, site, and fungal distribution. Improvization of these conditions more accurately can result in decreased incidence of dermatophytosis in this area.

Aim: Tuberculosis is a global health problem. To control the disease, timely diagnosis is necessary. Both solid and liquid cultures have been used for diagnosis.  Brochoalveolar lavage is used as a specimen for diagnosis of smear negative tuberculosis and in patients who are   unable to expectorate sputum. The study was done to evaluate the performance for the detection of M. tuberculosis from BAL in terms of detection rates, time to positivity and contamination. Study Design: This was a descriptive cross sectional study. Methodology: BAL samples of suspected patients were collected in the Department of Microbiology, Government medical college, Srinagar. Samples were processed, decontaminated and subjected to smear microscopy by ZN staining, culture on solid (LJ) and liquid media (BacT Alert.). Results: Out of 283 BAL specimens, 23 (8.13%) specimens were AFB smear positive and 260 (91.87%) were AFB smear negative.  The detection rate for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was 8.83% (25/283) on LJ and 12.37% (37/283) on BacT Alert. Overall, detection rate was comparable on smear positive samples but BacT Alert was more sensitive (7.7% detection rate) than LJ (3.46%) in smear-negative specimens. Although detection rates using BacT Alert were greater than LJ, 6 samples were positive exclusively on LJ medium. Time to positivity was significantly lower in liquid media but contamination rates were higher. Conclusion: BacT/Alert affords rapid diagnosis of infection and therefore prompt institution of treatment for M. tuberculosis. Although BacT/Alert has higher sensitivity particularly in smear negative cases, there still remains a proportion of MTB specimens that may go undetected if not complemented with the solid media. Therefore it would be prudent if both the tests are used simultaneously to improve diagnostic yield.