Fungus cultures in a pediatric outpatient clinic.

Comparison of culture results with clinical impressions showed that pediatric house officers made frequent errors in diagnosing superficial fungus infections. Results of cultures on dermatophyte test medium (DTM), read by nonmycologists in the clinic, were comparably accurate with those on standard media processed in a laboratory. DTM is a useful aid in diagnosing dermatophytoses and teaching clinical mycology to pediatric residents.