Dermatophytosis: Diagnostic innovation through molecular techniques
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59169/pentaciencias.v7i5.1655Keywords:
Dermatophytosis, dermatophytes, molecular techniquesAbstract
Dermatophytosis constitutes a group of superficial mycoses that affect the skin, nails, and hair, with Trichophyton rubrum being the most common species. Given the limitations of conventional methods, such as culture which requires long incubation periods and may lead to morphological misidentificationmolecular techniques have emerged as precise and rapid tools for detecting etiological agents. This documentary study, based on 24 articles selected through the PRISMA methodology, was conducted using an exhaustive search in the PubMed, BVS, and Web of Science databases, evaluating the most commonly used molecular methods such as PCR, ITS sequencing, MALDI-TOF, DendrisCHIP, DendrisKIT, ITS-RFLP, and LAMP, assessing their sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic time. The results show that molecular techniques greatly outperform conventional ones in speed and reliability, achieving sensitivities and specificities close to 100%. Moreover, they enable the detection of mutations associated with antifungal resistance, such as in Trichophyton indotineae, and correct morphological identification errors. However, traditional techniques remain essential due to their low cost and accessibility. In conclusion, the integration of molecular and conventional methods represents the most effective diagnostic strategy, combining precision, speed, and clinical coverage in the management of dermatophytosis.
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