Wood's lamp green fluorescence is associated with the infection by which organism?

Wood's lamp green fluorescence is associated with the infection by which organism?

• A. Microsporum
• B. Trichophyton rubrum
• C. Epidermophyton floccosum
• D. Malassezia furfur

Answer: (A)

Wood's lamp helps identify certain fungal infections by causing specific organisms to fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Microsporum species, especially Microsporum canis, reliably produce a bright apple-green fluorescence in infected hairs and skin scales when viewed with the Wood’s lamp. This fluorescence occurs because the fungal elements contain metabolites that emit visible light under UV excitation, making the affected areas stand out. In contrast, Trichophyton rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum typically do not fluoresce, so infections with these fungi won’t show the green glow. Malassezia furfur can fluoresce as well, but its fluorescence is usually yellow-green rather than the bright green seen with Microsporum. Thus, green fluorescence under Wood's lamp is most characteristic of Microsporum infections.

Wood's lamp helps identify certain fungal infections by causing specific organisms to fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Microsporum species, especially Microsporum canis, reliably produce a bright apple-green fluorescence in infected hairs and skin scales when viewed with the Wood’s lamp. This fluorescence occurs because the fungal elements contain metabolites that emit visible light under UV excitation, making the affected areas stand out.

In contrast, Trichophyton rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum typically do not fluoresce, so infections with these fungi won’t show the green glow. Malassezia furfur can fluoresce as well, but its fluorescence is usually yellow-green rather than the bright green seen with Microsporum. Thus, green fluorescence under Wood's lamp is most characteristic of Microsporum infections.