DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF PLAIN POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE MOUNT AND CULTURE IN TINEA PEDIS

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of direct microscopy in clinically diagnosed cases of tinea pedis by keeping culture as gold standard.
Study design: validation study
Place and duration of study: Department of Dermatology Military Hospital and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi from January 2008 to July 2008.
Patients and methods: One hundred clinically diagnosed cases of tinea pedis were subjected to direct microscopy with 10% KOH and fungal culture.
Results: Direct microscopic examination was positive in 34% and culture in 60% of the cases. The sensitivity and specificity of direct microscopy were 38.33% and 72.5%, respectively keeping culture as gold standard. Direct microscopy had a positive predictive value of 67.65% and negative predictive value of 43.94%.
Conclusion: Direct microscopy with 10% KOH may not be sufficient alone therefore cultures should be used for a definitive diagnosis.