Objective: To assess the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to inhibit the growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes (TM) and Trichophyton rubrum (TR).
Design: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, or Staphylococcus epidermidis were grown in co-culture with either TM or TR.
Setting: An academic medical center.
Main outcome measures: The total fungal units and hyphal-spore ratio were measured at days 1, 5, 10, and 15.
Results: There was a 73% and 46% reduction of total fungal units and a final hyphal-spore ratio of 0.16 and 0.04, respectively, when TM and TR were co-cultured with P aeruginosa. The number of fungal units increased when TM and TR were cultured with E coli (28% and 42%, respectively), S epidermidis (13% and 18%, respectively), and control media (44% and 62%, respectively), and the hyphal-spore ratio increased to above 30 in the presence of S epidermidis, E coli, and control media.
Conclusion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibits growth inhibitory properties against TM and TR.