Fungal infections

Superficial fungal skin infections are very common in people of all ages (Penzer, 2005). They are usually considered mild but can be unpleasant and difficult to eradicate; this underlines the need for accurate assessment and treatment. They can be more serious in immunosuppressed people. They can also lead to compromised skin barrier function which can predispose to bacterial infections such as cellulitis. They can be due to two groups of fungi:

1. Dermatophytes (ringworm): multicellular filaments or hyphae;
2. Yeasts: unicellular forms which replicate by budding (Gawkrodger, 2003).