Why in the News?
The increase in drug-resistant fungal infections, especially Trichophyton indotineae, is becoming a major health problem in India.
What Is Trichophyton Indotineae?
- Trichophyton indotineae is a dermatophyte commonly known as ringworm or jock itch.
- First identified in India, this fungus has now spread to several countries worldwide.
- It belongs to genotype VIII within the T. mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale species complex, found in regions including Australia and Oman.
Factors causing its spread
- Patients often present with persistent, treatment-resistant rashes that can be mistaken for eczema or other skin conditions.
- Misdiagnosis leads to the use of ineffective treatments, prolonging patient suffering and allowing the infection to worsen.
- Trichophyton indotineae has shown resistance to terbinafine due to genetic mutations, with growing resistance to itraconazole also a concern.
- The unregulated sale of steroid-containing combination creams further complicates treatment efforts.
Treatments available
- Alternative to terbinafine and Itraconazole are available but often come with significant side effects, requiring close monitoring by healthcare providers.
- Integrating comprehensive skin care regimens can enhance treatment efficacy, including maintaining skin hydration and using barrier creams.
PYQ:[2014] Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of: (a) algae and bacteria (b) algae and fungi (c) bacteria and fungi (d) fungi and mosses |
