Abstract
Dermatophytes are filamentous keratinophilic fungi which affect nails, skin, and hair. Their variable distribution in the world justifies local epidemiological studies. During recent decades, few studies have been published regarding the epidemiology and etiology of dermatophytosis in Romania. The aim of this study was to identify the dermatophytes isolated from superficial fungal infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such study conducted in the area of North-Western Romania. Over the past four years, samples collected from outpatients with suggestive lesions for dermatophytoses (nails, skin, hair), who addressed several private practice dermatologists from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, were sent to a specialized laboratory and examined by microscopy and culture. A total of 350 samples from 322 patients were examined. One hundred samples (28.6%) collected from 90 patients (27.9%) were positive by direct microscopy and/or culture. Among the 63 positive cultures (18%), 44 dermatophytes (69.8%), 2 molds (3.2%), and 17 yeasts (27%) were isolated. The main dermatophyte species identified were Trichophyton rubrum (mostly from onychomycosis) and Microsporum canis (from tinea capitis and tinea corporis in children). Yeasts (Candida species) were isolated from nails, especially from women.
Highlights
Dermatophytes are filamentous keratinophylic fungi from the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton, and Nannizzia, which affect nails, skin, and hair
The aim of this study was to investigate and identify the dermatophytes isolated from superficial fungal infections in samples from Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County (North-Western Romania)
Non-dermathophyte filamentous fungi (NDF) were considered as etiological agents when fungal filaments were observed during direct microscopic examination of the samples and NDF were repeatedly isolated as pure culture from the majority of the inoculation points without concomitant isolation of a dermatophyte [19,20,21]
Summary
Dermatophytes are filamentous keratinophylic fungi from the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton, and Nannizzia, which affect nails, skin, and hair. Dermatophytoses are fungal infections that are frequently diagnosed all over the world. These infections are usually not severe, but can sometimes be rather difficult to treat, exhibiting a chronic evolution [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. The widespread but uneven distribution of dermatophytes in the world justifies the need for local epidemiological studies [9,10], as it is essential to identify the precise etiological agents for the effective management, treatment, and prevention of dermatophytosis [11,12,13]. Insufficient studies have been performed and published regarding the ecology, epidemiology, and etiology of dermatophytosis in Romania. Very little information is available about the etiology of superficial fungal infections in Romania: several old
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