Hasan Pour Bahareh
School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mycoses. 2025 Jan;68(1):e70007. doi: 10.1111/myc.70007.
Superficial fungal infections are among the most common infections in world, they mainly affect skin, nails and scalp without further invasion. Superficial fungal diseases are conventionally diagnosed with direct microscopy, fungal culture or histopathology, treated with topical or systemic antifungal agents and prevented in immunocompetent patients by improving personal hygiene. However, conventional diagnostic tests can be time-consuming, also treatment can be insufficient or ineffective and prevention can prove to be demanding. Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to a digital system having an intelligence akin to a human being. The concept of AI has existed since 1956, but hasn't been practicalised until recently. AI has revolutionised medical research in the recent years, promising to influence almost all specialties of medicine.
An increasing number of articles have been published about the usage of AI in cutaneous mycoses.
In this review, the key findings of articles about utilisation of AI in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of superficial fungal infections are summarised. Moreover, the need for more research and development is highlighted.
Fifty-four studies were reviewed. Onychomycosis was the most researched superficial fungal infection. AI can be used diagnosing fungi in macroscopic and microscopic images and classify them to some extent. AI can be a tool and be used as a part of something bigger to diagnose superficial mycoses.
AI can be used in all three steps of diagnosing, treating and preventing. AI can be a tool complementary to the clinician's skills and laboratory results.
浅表真菌感染是世界上最常见的感染之一，主要影响皮肤、指甲和头皮，不会进一步侵袭深层组织。浅表真菌病传统上通过直接显微镜检查、真菌培养或组织病理学进行诊断，使用局部或全身抗真菌药物进行治疗，免疫功能正常的患者通过改善个人卫生来预防。然而，传统的诊断测试可能耗时，治疗可能不充分或无效，预防措施也可能难以实施。人工智能（AI）是指具有类似人类智能的数字系统。人工智能的概念自1956年就已存在，但直到最近才得以实现。近年来，人工智能彻底改变了医学研究，有望影响几乎所有医学专业。
关于人工智能在皮肤真菌病中的应用的文章越来越多。
在这篇综述中，总结了关于人工智能在浅表真菌感染的诊断、治疗和预防中的应用的文章的关键发现。此外，强调了更多研发的必要性。
回顾了54项研究。甲癣是研究最多的浅表真菌感染。人工智能可用于在宏观和微观图像中诊断真菌并在一定程度上对其进行分类。人工智能可以作为一种工具，并作为更大诊断浅表真菌病的一部分来使用。
人工智能可用于诊断、治疗和预防的所有三个步骤。人工智能可以作为一种工具，补充临床医生的技能和实验室结果。
