A ten year survey of superficial mycoses in the Tauranga district, Bay of Plenty.

Between 1 January 1976 and 31 December 1985, 4086 patients living in Tauranga and its environs were examined mycologically. All were suspected of superficial cutaneous mycoses and the majority were referred by general practitioners. A total of 1085 pathogenic fungi were identified, an isolation rate of 27%. The main pathogens identified in order of frequency were--Candida species; Microsporum canis; Trichophyton rubrum; Malassezia furfur; Epidermophyton floccosum; T mentagrophytes var interdigitale. The positivity rate was slightly higher for patients attending the laboratory compared with specimens collected at the surgeries of medical practitioners. Some seasonal variation was noted.