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Fungal Culture for Athlete's Foot

Exam Overview

A fungal culture is used to find out whether fungi are present and, if so, what type of fungus it is.

Your doctor will take samples by lightly scraping your skin with a sharp blade or the edge of a microscope slide. He or she may also take toenail samples if the nail is infected. The type of fungus can often be identified by using a microscope to look at the shape of the cells or by detecting color that appears when the cells are stained with special dyes.

Fungi are slow-growing, so it can take up to 6 weeks to identify the fungi and get results.

Why It Is Done

A fungal culture may be done to find out the cause of cracking, scaling, peeling, or blistered skin, or to find out why there is an area of persistent irritation (and sometimes redness) on the feet. The presence of fungi suggests that the condition is athlete's foot (tinea pedis).

Results

Normal

No fungi are present in the skin or nail scrapings. Other skin tests may be done to find out the cause of the skin or nail problems.

Abnormal

Fungi are present, and the type of fungus is identified.

Treatment may vary depending on the type of fungus present.

What To Think About

If you have been diagnosed with athlete's foot before and the symptoms have returned, a fungal culture will probably not be needed. Your doctor may suggest you treat the infection with nonprescription or prescription antifungal medicine.

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Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology
Last Revised June 28, 2010

Last Revised: June 28, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology

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