Mycological Pattern of Dermatomycoses in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Ravinder Kaur,Pragyan Swagatika Panda,Kabir Sardana,Sahanawaj Khan

doi:10.1155/2015/157828

Ravinder Kaur, Pragyan Swagatika Panda + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/157828

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Abstract

Background. Dermatomycoses are not diseases requiring compulsory notifications; rather they cause cosmetic defacements. Indian subcontinent with a varied topography is favorable for various fungal infections. Objective. To look for the epidemiological and mycological profile of superficial mycoses in North India. Methods. Three hundred and fifty-one clinical samples of skin, hair, and nail were examined to find the fungal etiology of the dermatomycoses. Results. Dermatomycoses were seen in 215/351 (61.2%) of cases. Most common isolates obtained were nondermatophyte molds (NDMs) (36.1%), followed by dermatophytes (13.8%) and yeasts (8.6%). Aspergillus niger (9%) was the most common mold. Trichophyton rubrum (4.6%) was the most common dermatophyte isolated, while amongst the yeasts Non-albicans Candida (NAC) species were more common (6%). Many other NDMs like Syncephalastrum spp., Cunninghamella spp., Rhodotorula spp., A. terreus, Scytalidium spp. and Scopulariopsis spp. were also isolated. Conclusion. Our study reflects an increasing role of NDMs (thought to be normal laboratory or environmental contaminants) as a causative agent of dermatomycoses, replacing the dermatophytes. Clinician's awareness of the demographic profile of the population involved along with more studies on dermatomycoses can help in understanding the etiological profile in area, leading to prevention of disease occurrence and cosmetic disfigurement.

Highlights

Fungal infections, very common in man, are of an increasing significance both in developed and developing countries due to illnesses like diabetes, HIV infection, and the use of immunosuppressive drugs
Principally in tropical countries, cases of tinea and other superficial fungal infections observed daily with definitive diagnoses can be detected on the skin, in hair, on the nails, in periungual folds, in the mucosa, and so forth [1]
Superficial mycoses are infections of skin, hairs, and nails caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophyte molds

Summary

Introduction

Very common in man, are of an increasing significance both in developed and developing countries due to illnesses like diabetes, HIV infection, and the use of immunosuppressive drugs. Superficial mycoses are infections of skin, hairs, and nails caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophyte molds. The nature of dermatomycoses changes with the passage of time, change in living conditions, and evolution of preventive measures and hygienic conditions in society [4] These variations inspired us to study the epidemiological and mycological pattern of dermatomycoses to contribute to the current understanding of the etiological distribution of the most frequent fungal agents causing the skin, hair, and nail infections in our region. Most common isolates obtained were nondermatophyte molds (NDMs) (36.1%), followed by dermatophytes (13.8%) and yeasts (8.6%). Our study reflects an increasing role of NDMs (thought to be normal laboratory or environmental contaminants) as a causative agent of dermatomycoses, replacing the dermatophytes. Clinician’s awareness of the demographic profile of the population involved along with more studies on dermatomycoses can help in understanding the etiological profile in area, leading to prevention of disease occurrence and cosmetic disfigurement

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