A SIMPLE QUANTITATIVE CULTURE OF MALASSEZIA SPP IN HIV-POSITIVE PERSONS

Background: Etiological role of Malassezia spp. remains controversial in certain skin diseases. Objective: To adapt a 'tape method' for quan titative culture of Malassezia spp. Method: Samples for culture were t aken from clinically normal forehead skin of HIV-positive and negative persons by stripping with a tape that was then placed on Leeming & No tman medium. The number of colonies was counted after 14 days. Results : 74/78 (94.8%) cultures were positive, for a median count of 9 CFU/ta pe (range 0 to > 200). High skin density of Malassezia spp., defined a s more than 100 CFU/tape, was found in 7/38 (18.4%) HIV-positive perso ns and was absent (0/40) in the HIV-negative group (p < 0.01). Conclus ion: The method used is simple, unexpensive and reliable. High Malasse zia spp. density was only found in HIV-positive patients.