ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Fungal infections are common in the skin, an organ system exposed to a barrage of insults from the environment. Cutaneous fungal infections are often divided into ‘superficial’ and ‘deep’ forms. Superficial fungal infections include such commonplace conditions as tinea pedis (‘athlete’s foot’), tinea cruris (‘jock itch’), tinea corporis (‘ring worm’). Deep fungal infections are more unusual and range from sporotrichosis, a worldwide affliction, to those conditions associated chiefly with immunocompromised states, such as cryptococcosis or penicilliosis. Finally, because of overlapping clinical features, diagnostic modalities, and treatment modalities, rare cutaneous infections caused by algae-like organisms are traditionally discussed with fungal infections.
