Dermatophytoses (a fungal infection of the skin, hair and nail, usually caused by dermatophytes) constitutes an important public health problem because of its high prevalence and associated morbidity but not life-threatening. Three genera of dermatophytes are recognized based on the site and pattern of fungal invasion. Dermatophytes are the predominant pathogenic mould, but yeasts (especially Candida albicans) and non-dermatophytic moulds may also be implicated. For accurate diagnosis of dermatophytoses requires microscopic demonstration and isolation and identification by culture. This study evaluates the usefulness of microscopic technique and culture for the isolation and identification of dermatophytes from clinical samples. Thirty samples were included in this study for detection of fungal elements by both methods but sensitivity of microscopic demonstration and culture were 60.0% and 66.7% respectively. As the sensitivity of microscopic demonstration (60.0%) is almost equal to the isolation and identification rate (66.7%), requires further evaluation in large scale as its ready to use format makes the application and microscopy much easier and faster.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/kyamcj.v3i1.13658 KYAMC Journal Vol. 3, No.-1, June 2012 pp.235-238

IntroductionTuberculosis (TB) is one of the commonest infectious disease burdens of developing countries. Bangladesh is ranked sixth in the world of tuberculosis with around 300000 new cases per year.1 TB usually affects lung but extra pulmonary TB is also common and occurs at around 4% of all TB cases. 2 Among the extra pulmonary TB cases tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) is the most common form. 3 Diagnosis of pulmonary TB is done by sputum for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB). But the diagnosis of TPE is challenging as percentage of finding AFB in pleural fluid or typical histopathology of pleural biopsy is very low and AFB culture is time consuming, though they are gold standard. 4 Also the expertise and centre doing pleural biopsyis lacking in high incidence areas of TB in our country. ELISA, PCR and TB interferon tests are very expensive as well. Pleural TB occurs as a result of a TB antigen entering the pleural space, usually through the rupture of a subpleural focus, followed by a local, delayed hypersensitivity reaction mediated by CD4+ T lymphocytes and macrophages. The activated macrophages enter the pleural cavity, producing adenosine deaminase during its proliferation process.