[Dermatophytes and dermatophytosis in Córdoba (Spain)]

During a two year period all patients referred to the Dermatology Department with the diagnosis of dermatophytosis were studied. We obtained 158 dermatophyte isolated belonging to 12 species of dermatophytes. The most frequent causal agents were M. canis in 58 (36.7%), T. mentagrophytes var mentagrophytes in 36 (22.7%), E. floccosum in 29 (18.3%) and T. rubrum in 17 (10.7%). M. canis was the most prevalent causal agent of tinea capitis and tinea corporis. The most frequent species in the tinea cruris was E. floccosum. In 4 patients there were simultaneous infection by two different agents. The incidence of dermatophytosis in Córdoba is high. Due to the similarities with other diseases, the mycologic examination by culture is essential.