Mycological tests
Mochizuki, T.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 66(12): 2319-2325
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 19069099 Document Number: 619646
Diabetic patients are known to be susceptible to infectious diseases including opportunistic fungal infections, such as mucocutaneous candidosis, dematiaceous fungal infection and cryptococcosis. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of these often life threatening fungal diseases is of clinical importance. In addition, skin diseases of the foot including tinea pedis are exacerbation factors of diabetic foot and management of such conditions are important to prevention of severe bacterial infections among these patients. Here I comment on conventional mycological tests including direct microscopic examination and fungal cultures, which are standard and inexpensive tools for diagnosis of these fungal diseases.