Abstract
ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION:
 Fungal infections have become a common problem in the elderly age group. As age advances, the skin becomes dry, thin, wrinkled and with less number of hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands therefore, making it more susceptible to opportunistic pathogens. Superficial mycosis account for nearly 25% of the global burden of skin mycoses. The aim of this study is to identify the various superficial mycosis occurring in the elderly age group > 60 years attending a tertiary care hospital in North India.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS:
 Prospective, observational study conducted on 540 patients over the age of 60 years attending the Dermatology OPD at a tertiary care centre. Patients on antifungal agents were excluded from the study. Samples collected included skin and nail scrapings, nail clippings and hair along. The collected samples were divided into two parts one for culture and other for direct microscopy. Direct microscopy of the specimens was performed in 10% potassium hydroxide + 40% Di-methyl sulfoxide. Culture media used included Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA) and Sabouraud’s dextrose agar containing Cycloheximide (0.5 mg/ml ). Cultures were incubated at both 25ºC and 37ºC for four weeks. Further species identification was done by Microslide culture technique. 
 RESULTS:
 The M:F ratio was 1.36:1. Onychomycosis accounted for the majority of superficial mycosis (25%) followed by Tinea mannum (14.65%) and Tinea pedis (15.51%). The most common dermatophyte isolate was Trichophyton rubrum (27.58%), followed by T.mentagrophytes (22.41%) and T.verrucosum (17.24%).
 KEY WORDS:
 Dermatophytes, Superficial Mycosis, Elderly age group, Slide culture
Highlights
Fungal infections have become a common problem in the elderly age group
Benign tumors accounted for the majority (n=244, 45.18%) of cases followed by cherry angiomas and seborrheic keratosis (n=163, 30.2% and n=127, 23.5% respectively)
In a study done by Jindal et al (2016), fungal infections were found in 18% cases [19]
Summary
Fungal infections have become a common problem in the elderly age group. As age advances, the skin becomes dry, thin, wrinkled and with a smaller number of hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands; making it more susceptible to opportunistic pathogens. The aim of this study is to identify the various superficial mycosis occurring in the elderly age group > 60 years attending a tertiary care hospital in North India. Superficial mycoses affect skin and its appendages including hair and nails and account for nearly 25% of the global skin mycoses, making them as one of the most common types of fungal infections all over the world [3]. Dermatophytosis refers to superficial fungal infections caused by either of the three groups of keratinophillic fungi, namely, trichophyton (infects skin, nails and hair), microsporum (infects skin and hair) and epidermophyton (infects skin and nail) [4] These comprise the most common agents responsible for superficial mycosis [5,6]. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and identify the various superficial fungal infections occurring in the elderly
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
