A Mycological Study on the Distribution of Candida Species in Normal Human Skin

Cho, Jin Ho; Kim, Soo Nam

Abstract

This study was done on 171 volunteers in order to investigate the present status of cutaneous normal flora of Candida species and the distribution of Candida species on the normal human skin in dermatologic clinic of Korea University Hospital from January, ]984 to December, 1984. Among the 171 volunteers, 115 strains of Candida species were identified by culture on the Sabouraud's dextrose agar media, germ tube test, sugar assimilation test, sugar fermentaion test and culture on corn meal with Tween 80 media, The results were summarized as follows: 1. The incidence of cutaneous normal flora of Candida species was 13, 5,5 (115 species among 855 sites) 2. Candida species were distributed in oral cavity(45 species), 4th interdigital toe web(39 species), groin(12 species), axilla(11 species) and 4th interdigital finger web(8 species) in order of frequency. 3, Of ll5 species, 45 species were cultured in summer, 27 species in autumn, 18 species in winter and 14 species in spring. 4 Of 115 Candida species, C. albicans(88 species), C. parapsilosis(12 species), C, tropicalis(8 species), C. guilliermondii(3 species) and C. stellatoidea(2 species) were identified. Two species could not be identified.