Superficial mycoses among patients presenting at the dermatology outpatient department, Teaching Hospital, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka from December 2014 to March 2015

Abstract

Introduction: Superficial mycoses (SM) are common in tropical countries.Objective: This study aimed to investigate SM in a group of patients attending the dermatology clinic at the Teaching Hospital, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.Methods: The study included 125 clinically diagnosed SM patients who visited the dermatology clinic for the first time from December 2014 to March 2015. Demographic data of the participants were recorded using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Suitable samples were examined using the light microscope after 10-20% KOH digestion and were cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar. Fungi were identified on microscopic and macroscopic features.Results: The study population consisted of 47(37.6%) males and 78(62.4%) females with the highest number of patients (27; 21.6%) in the 50-59-year age group. Onychomycosis (47; 37.6%) was the commonest clinical presentation followed by pityriasis versicolor (37; 29.6%), tinea corporis (21;16.8%) and cutaneous candidiasis (8; 6.4%).Direct microscopy was positive in 82 (65.6%) samples. Out of 90 cultured samples, 46 (51.1%) produced significant growth. Malassezia (35) was the commonest identified aetiology followed by dermatophytes (25), Candida (16) and non-dermatophyte molds (10). Among dermatophytes, Trycophyton mentagrophytes 7 (35%) and Trycophyton rubrum 7 (35%) were isolated in higher numbers.Conclusions: SM were common among females in the 50-59-year age group. Onychomycosis and pityriasis versicolor were the commonest clinical presentations. Malassezia species (identified by direct microscopy only) was the commonest aetiology for SM followed by dermatophytes. The leading dermatophytes isolated in this study were T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum.