Clinical Aspects and Direct Micological Examination in the Presuptive Diagnosis of Surface Micoses in Patients of the Intensive Care Unit of Hospital University of Petrolina-PE

Abstract

Introduction:Fungal infections have become more frequent in recent years, and are more prevalent in patients with underlying diseases that compromise the immune system and predispose to other risk factors, such as invasive devices and the use of antibacterials. The etiological agents of these mycoses are dermatophyte filamentous fungi, non-dermatophyte filamentous fungi (FFND) and yeasts. Objectives: To demonstrate the importance of observing the clinical aspects of lesions suggestive of mycosis, as well as the direct mycological examination in the presumptive diagnosis of superficial mycoses in patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Hospital University (HU) located in Petrolina- PE. Methods: Patients who were admitted to the UHU from March to May 2016, after ethical procedures, were analyzed for suspicion of superficial mycoses and the respective clinical samples were collected and processed for direct examination through clarification with 30% potassium hydroxide (KOH). Results and Discussion: The mean age of the patients was 39.4, ranging from 24 to 68 years and an average length of hospital stay of 15.1 days. None of the patients were on antifungal use. Of 23 patients, 10 presented lesions characteristic of nail mycoses, 4 presented lesions characteristic of tinea corporis. Of the 10 nail mycosis suspicions, 4 cases were confirmed. The toenails went to the most affected areas. The use of closed shoes and even vascular impairment in the lower limb are considered as the primary factors predisposing to the development of such an infection. Conclusion: The simple observation of the clinical aspects and the direct mycological examination in lesions suspected of fungal infections are important to identify possible outbreaks of systemic infections, as well as being a quick and low cost diagnostic method, making it possible to handle patients quickly with a nail disorder.