Association of Bacteria with Fungal Infection of Skin and Soft Tissue Lesions in Plateau State, Nigeria

Aims: To identify and determine the bacteria associated with skin and soft tissue conditions of fungal infections.
Place and Duration of Study: Sample area was Plateau State Nigeria and sample collection and analysis was done in Dermatophilosis Research Centre, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria, between September 2011 and December 2012.
Methodology: Nine hundred and forty (940) human skin and nail scraping samples from different parts of the body were collected from subjects referred to the Centre from different hospitals with visible skin infections. Sample analysis were carried out using standard microbiological methods which include: Wet mount, tease mount, culture and biochemical tests were used to process and analyze for the isolation and identification of fungi and bacteria.
Results: Out of 940 samples, 892(94.9%) yielded fungal species which include: Microsporum 45(4.8%), Trichophyton 176(18.7%), Aspergillus 216(22.9%), Epidermophyton 32(3.4%), Candida 72(7.7%), Mucor 141(15.0%), Rhizopus 52(5.5%), Fusarium 12(1.3%), Bipolaris 23(2.5%), Sporothrix 74(7.9%), Penicillium 32(3.4%) and Curvularia 17(1.8%). All samples 940 (100%) yielded an array of bacteria which include: Staphylococcus aureus 125(13.3%), Staphylococcus epidermidis 145(15.8%), Micrococcus luteus 233(24.8%), α-hemolytic Streptococci 89(9.5%), Escherichia coli 59(6.3%), Proteus mirabilis 113(12%), Bacillus subtilis 78(8.3%) and Klebsiella pneumonia 98(10.4%). Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus were isolated from all sites of infection while Micrococcus luteus was isolated from all moist ulcerous and dry scaly skin infections.
Conclusion: This study showed the presence of bacteria in high frequency in and around skin and soft tissue infection sites on the body. Micrococcus luteus was the most prevalent bacterial organism associated with skin and soft tissue conditions of fungal infections. Under favourable conditions, some of the bacteria isolated can establish infections through broken skin hence complicating or prolonging treatment of the skin infection.