Isolation and Characterization of Dermatophytes from Students Bathing Places

Background: Dermatophyte comprises of a vast range of filamentous pathogenic fungi that infect keratinous tissues of skin (the stratum corneum layer), hair, and nail in humans and animals via their keratinase enzymes which are capable of causing superficial infections. Aim: This study aimed to isolate and characterized dermatophytes isolated from students bathing places. Methodology: Four sampling sites were chosen from both male and female students bathing places; the floor, walls, sinks and door handles. Three hundred samples were collected and cultured on sterile plates containing Potato dextrose agar using spread plate method. The plates were incubated at 350C for 72 hours. Results: Out of three hundred samples collected from the various sampling sites, a total of four hundred and ten fungi were isolated, 286 (70%) were dermatophytes belonging to three genera (Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermorphyton) while124 (30%) were non dermatophytes. The female bathing places yielded 167(58%) and 48(39%) dermatophytes and Candida species respectively higher than male counterparts which yielded 119 (42%) dermatophytes without any species of Candida. There was no significant difference between the isolates from female and male bathrooms P ≥ 0.05. Conclusion: Hence the students bathing places were found to be rich in pathogenic and potentially pathogenic fungi and need thorough disinfectants to avoid dermatophytes infections’ like Tinea pedis, Tinea corporis Tinea capitis and Tinea cruris.