Chronic infection Chronic tinea infection 2019-01-27T18:30:04Z The term tinea means fungal infection, whereas dermatophyte refers to the fungal organisms that cause tinea. This term refers to a tinea infection that is chronic or recalcitrant to treatment and may be reflective of an immune defect. Tinea is usually followed by a Latin term that designates the involved site, such as tinea corporis and tinea pedis. Tinea versicolor (now called pityriasis versicolor) is not caused by dermatophytes but rather by yeasts of the genus Malassezia. Tinea unguium is more commonly known as onychomycosis. Dermatophytes are usually limited to involvement of hair, nails, and stratum corneum, which are inhospitable to other infectious agents. Dermatophytes include three genera: Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton.