Results of the first dermatomycoses quality control study in Germany

For the first time in the history of German mycology, a multicenter study for identification of dermatophytes, yeasts and molds was conducted under the auspices of the German Speaking Mycological Society and the German Dermatological Society. A total of 1,008 dermatological offices and dermatology hospitals as well as 106 institutes of microbiology participated in this voluntary quality control trial. They were requested to identify four pathogens: Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Aspergillus niger, and Candida glabrata. T. tonsurans was correctly determined by 749 participants (67.2%), T. mentagrophytes by 974 (87.4%), A. niger by 922 (82.8%) and C. glabrata by 973 (87.3%). Four pathogens were identified at the species level by 591 investigators (53.1%). Three species were correctly identified by 310 investigators (27.8%), two by 143 (12.8%) and 0-1 by 70 (6.3%). The first dermatomycological quality control study in Germany may therefore be considered a success. Further trials will be carried out, initially at intervals of one year.