Frequency and spectrum of Malassezia yeasts in the area of the prepuce andglans penis

Objective To investigate the frequency and spectrum of lipophilic Malassezi a yeasts within the area of the glans penis and preputial space in healthy men, most of whom were uncircumcised. Subjects and methods As the glans penis and the prepuce are abundant in seb aceous glands, 130 clinically healthy men were examined for the presence of Malassezia spp. Two impression preparations each were made on modified Dix on (mDixon) and Leeming-Notman agar. The media were used with no added cycl oheximide to allow the identification of the full spectrum of Candida yeast s. After 10 days of incubation at 32 degreesC Malassezia and Candida yeasts were differentiated by micromorphological and biochemical criteria. Results Malassezia spp. were found as part of the microflora of the glans p enis in 49% of the men. The two media yielded comparable results for isolat ion frequency and spectrum: On mDixon agar, 47.6% of the isolates were iden tified as M. sympodialis, 42.8% as M. globosa, 4.8% as M. pachydermatis and 2.4% as M furfur. Candida spp. (especially C. albicans) were found in 20.8 %. There were no significant differences in the distribution of different M alassezia spp with age. Conclusions Malassezia yeasts may belong to the resident microflora of the male genital region, which is supported by the finding that free sebaceous glands ('Tyson's glands') normally occur at this site. They may also be inv olved in pathological processes of the glans penis, e.g. balanitis, seborrh eic eczema or psoriasis.