Relloso S, Arechavala A, Guelfand L, Maldonado I, Walker L, Agorio I, Reyes S, Giusiano G, Rojas F, Flores V, Capece P, Posse G, Nicola F, Tutzer S, Bianchi M. [Onychomycosis: multicentre epidemiological, clinical and mycological study].
Rev Iberoam Micol 2011;
29:157-63. [PMID:
22198612 DOI:
10.1016/j.riam.2011.11.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2011] [Accepted: 11/30/2011] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Onychomycosis accounts for up to 50% of all nail disorders. They can be caused by: yeasts, dermatophytes and non-dermatophyte moulds.
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS
A multicentre study designed to determine the prevalence, mycological test results, aetiological agents, and clinical presentation of onychomycosis was carried out. All fingernail and toenail samples taken during a one year period at 9 diagnostic centres were included.
RESULTS
A total of 5,961 samples were analysed, of which 82.3% were from toenails and 17.7% from fingernails. The mean age of the patients was 49.7 years, and 66% were females. Direct microscopic examination was positive in 61% of the samples. In adults, 61.2% of toenails were positive using potassium hydroxide (KOH), and 43.7% were positive in cultures. The prevailing aetiological agents belong to the dermatophyte group (82.8%), and distal subungual was the most common clinical form. In fingernails, direct examination showed 59.8% positive samples, and cultures were positive in 52.9%. The prevailing agents were yeasts belonging to Candida species, and onycholysis was the most common lesion.
CONCLUSIONS
Direct mycological examinations were positive in 61%, a higher value than that found in other series. Dermatophytes were prevalent in toenails of both sexes, and in finger nails yeast were prevalent in females, and dermatophytes in males. Non-dermatophyte moulds corresponded to 4.8% of toenail and 2.05% of fingernails isolates.
Collapse