Comparison of Three Skin Sampling Methods and Two Media for Culturing <i>Malassezia</i> Yeast

Abstract

Malassezia is a lipid-dependent commensal yeast of the human skin. The different culture media and skin sampling methods used to grow these fastidious yeasts are a source of heterogeneity in culture-based epidemiological study results. This study aimed to compare the performances of three methods of skin sampling, and two culture media for the detection of Malassezia yeasts by culture from the human skin. Three skin sampling methods, namely sterile gauze, dry swab, and TranswabTM with transport medium, were applied on 10 healthy volunteers at 5 distinct body sites. Each sample was further inoculated onto either the novel FastFung medium or the reference Dixon agar for the detection of Malassezia spp. by culture. At least one colony of Malassezia spp. grew on 93/300 (31%) of the cultures, corresponding to 150 samplings. The positive culture rate was 67%, 18%, and 15% (P −3), for samples collected with sterile gauze, TranswabTM, and dry swab, respectively. The positive culture rate was 62% and 38% (P Malassezia spp. cultivation.

Keywords

• <i>Malassezia</i>
• isolation
• culture media
• skin sampling