A 56-year-old male presented with a 10-month history of a pruritic, erythematous, and scaly rash on his trunk, arms, and legs, consistent with tinea corporis. Initial treatment with topical antifungals and oral terbinafine was ineffective. Diagnostic workup involved skin scraping for microscopy, which showed hyphae, and subsequent fungal culture. Broad-range fungal DNA sequencing identified the causative agent as drug-resistant Trichophyton indotineae. This case highlights the importance of advanced molecular diagnostics for identifying emerging drug-resistant dermatophytes in persistent tinea infections.
Key note: Molecular diagnostics are crucial for identifying emerging drug-resistant dermatophytes, especially in cases of treatment failure.