Possible Role of Superoxidised Water in the Treatment of Trichophyton Infections: An In vitro Study

Abstract

Superficial fungal infections are the common health seeking problem. These fungal infections are caused by three genera of Dermatophytes, naming Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton. Among these three, Trichophyton spp. causes most of these lesions. Trichophyton spp. primarily infect the moist areas of human bodies. Different groups of antifungal agents are used in the treatment of these fungal infections. Despite availability of antifungal treatment, an increasing number of recurrent superficial fungal infections have been reported. We assessed the antidermatophytic activity of superoxidised water; a newer disinfectant, against Trichophyton spp. isolated from the cutaneous fungal infections. A total of 79 isolates of Trichophyton species including mentagrophytes (n=43) and rubrum (n=32) were exposed to freshly generated superoxidised water. A 50µl of 0.1 OD of the Trichophyton conidia were exposed to 500 µl of undiluted, 5 & 10 times diluted superoxidised water for one minute. A 10µl of these exposed conidia were inoculated on SDA. A 10µl of conidia (no exposure to superoxidised water) was also inoculated on SDA tube. Tubes were incubated at 28°C in BOD incubator. No growth was observed in tubes having exposed conidia only to undiluted Superoxidised water, even after the 28 days of continuous incubation at 28°C. Growth within 7days was observed in the tubes having unexposed conidia and exposed to dilute Superoxidised water. Undiluted superoxidised water showed the In vitro inhibition on Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum which might be useful in future in the treatment of these infections.

Keywords

• dermatophyte
• superoxidised water
• trichophyton
• disinfection
• skin
• sterisol