Superficial and cutaneous fungal infections: diagnosis and treatment.

Fungal infections usually have characteristics that make them easily identifiable. In most cases, clinical diagnosis can be readily confirmed by examining the lesions under Wood's light or by placing infected material in potassium hydroxide solution and examining the preparation microscopically. Dermatophytes can be rapidly detected by culturing material on the recently developed Dermatophyte Test Medium. The development of topical antifungal agents with broad spectrums of activity has considerably simplified treatment. In most cases, culture on Sabouraud's agar to determine exact genus and species before starting therapy is no longer necessary.