Non dermatophytic molds causing onychomycosis: a rising trend in North India

Abstract

Background: Onychomycosis is rarely life threatening but can affect patient’s quality of life by its associated morbidity and cosmetic disfigurement that makes it an important public health problem. So the current study was undertaken to look for causes of onychomycosis including the non-dermatophytic molds that are normally considered as contaminants. Methods: A total of 100 nail samples from clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis, were processed by direct microscopy of the KOH mount followed by two sets of culture on Sabourauds’ Dextrose Agar and incubated at 25ºC and 37ºC and were examined once a week for a period of 4-6 weeks, to look for the fungal causative agent. Results: Infection was more common among males and amongst age group 21-30 years (31%). The finger nails (57%) were more commonly involved than toe nails (43%). Onychomycosis was mostly caused by molds (55%), followed by dermatophytes (15.8%) and yeasts (9.3%). Aspergillus niger and A. flavus (13% each) were the most common molds, T. verrucossum (4.6%) was the most common dermatophyte, while Candida albicans (6.5%) was the most common yeast isolated. Conclusions: There is a rising trend of non dermatophytic molds causing onychomycoses, Thus microbiologists should look for all the possible causes of superficial fungal infection.