This skin fungus can resist common treatments — and it’s becoming a global concern
An intensely itchy fungal infection is proving increasingly difficult to fight, with new research raising concerns about drug-resistant ringworm around the world.
THE TAKEAWAY
An intensely itchy fungal infection is proving increasingly difficult to fight, with new research raising concerns about drug-resistant ringworm around the world.
In a recent CDC study, officials found that the fungal skin pathogen dermatophyte Trichophyton indotineae is resistant to terbinafine, a medication used to treat fungal infections of the skin, nails, scalp and body.
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Researchers first identified the fungal pathogen in 2008, and in 2016, dermatologists in India noticed a rise in cases across the country.
Those cases were associated with T. mentagrophytes, which was frequently resistant to the medication terbinafine.
From March 2022 to Dec. 2025, the total cases of Trichophyton indotineae jumped to 1,692 across 54 different countries.
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The fungus was detected in several countries where cases have never been reported, such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Colombia and Uruguay.
Evidence shows that this fungus is spreading at an alarming rate, becoming a major health concern across numerous countries.
Microscopic analysis is difficult because it resembles other fungi, including Trichophyton interdigitale and T. mentagrophytes.
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Thankfully, laser desorption/ionization has become an effective method in identifying fungal pathogens, according to the CDC.
Because this fungus has spread internationally and is resistant to terbinafine, doctors will need to conduct large-scale laboratory testing to identify it and choose an appropriate new treatment.
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Over time, experts should be able to find a compatible medication that can effectively resist the effects of this fungus.
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