Final answer:
To collect a fungal lesion specimen, the area is cleaned and scraped to obtain material for microscopic analysis and potential culturing on Sabouraud dextrose agar.
Step-by-step explanation:
To collect a specimen for fungal lesion analysis, the doctor will clean the lesion area before scraping it. This material is then placed on a slide for microscopic examination, where the presence of macro- and microconidia, as well as cell walls, can confirm a fungal infection like Trichophyton rubrum. In order to visualize the fungi, the specimen is commonly prepared in a wet mount using a potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution, which helps dissolve keratin for better visibility of fungal structures.
For further identification and culturing, the specimen may be placed on Sabouraud dextrose agar, which inhibits non-dermatophyte growth, allowing for visual and morphological analysis of the fungal colony. Following incubation, the mycelium growth and any zone of clearing are recorded to help in diagnosis. If resistance to initial treatment is observed, additional steps may be taken to determine the specific fungal species, which could include the use of culture to identify physical characteristics indicative of the pathogen.