The molecular genetic methods (MGM) are used frequently in clinical microbiology to identify the agent of infection and also to its early direct detection in clinical specimens. In dermatomycology MGM supply or even substitute the classic time consuming and sophisticated diagnostic methods based on direct microscopy and cultivation.
The high sensitivity and rapid agent detection available in few hours or days is an advantage of MGM that enables to start the early targeted therapy or to avoid an unnecessary antifungal treatment. However MGM designated to direct micromycetes detection does not guarantee their precise diagnostics which still requires the pathogen isolation before MGM are used to its identification.
Article reviews the possibilities of MGM use in direct dermatophytes detection from clinical specimens and in species and strains identification.