Isolation of dermatophytes from clinically normal sites in patients with tinea cruris

Sixty patients clinically suspected of tinea cruris were studied by collecting skin scrapings from the site of their lesions and six clinically normal sites including the thighs, scrotum, crural clefts, natal cleft and the web between their 4th and 5th toes. Dermatophytes were detected in scrapings in 46 (77%) and by culture in 36 (60%) patients from lesions. Trichophyton rubrum was isolated from 32 and Epidermophyton floccosum from 4 patients. Dermatophytes were also isolated with maximum isolation from the scrotum, crural clefts and the natal cleft in that order. Thus, when tinea cruris is treated with topical antifungal agents they should be applied also to the potential carriage sites to prevent recurrence.