Candida of Nails and Skin: KOH Microscopy of Samples

Laboratory detection of Candida fungi: microscopy of scrapes with 20% KOH. Blastospores, pseudomycelium of the fungus in onychomycosis and candidal paronychia.

Dmitry Emelyanov 1 min November 12, 2024

Native preparation of nail scraping in 20% KOH: pseudomycelium and blastospores of Candida

Native preparation of skin scraping from the interdigital area with KOH: budding yeast cells

Microscopic preparation of interdigital fold scraping: pseudomycelial filaments and clusters of blastospores

Microscopic preparation of skin in alkaline solution: budding cells of Candida fungus

Page from a medical atlas: clinical picture of candidal paronychia and onychia

🔬 Blastospores (budding cells) and pseudomycelium of Candida fungi. Fingernail plate (photo 1) and interdigital spaces of the feet (photos 2,3,4), KOH 20%, magnification x400+zoom.

✅ In candidal onychomycosis, paronychia (inflammation of the proximal nail fold) precedes onychomycosis. First, the nail fold reddens, becomes shiny, thickens and swells, changing its shape, which causes the cuticle to separate from the nail plate and break down. Inflammation of the nail fold may be accompanied by pain. The course of paronychia is undulating; the nail is gradually involved.

🙏 Material kindly provided by medical laboratory technician Dmitry Emelyanov.