Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9554
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2155-9554
+44 1478 350008
Ravinder Kaur, Charu Gupta, Deepti Rawat and Ram Chander
Lady Hardinge Medical College, India
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Exp Dermatol Res
Onychomycosis is one of the most frequent conditions seen in dermatology clinics. The nail disease usually starts as a cosmetic concern progressing to have a major physical and psychological effect on the patients both in young and adults. The causative agent of onychomycosis can be dermatophyte, non-dermatophyte moulds (NDM), or yeasts. A mycological study of onychomycosis was undertaken in 550 patients from January 2016 to December 2016 in the Department of Microbiology, Lady Hardinge Medical College. The patients belonged to a wide range of age spectrum. Males were seen to be predominantly affected (53.5%), male to female ratio being1.4:1. After clinical suspicion, nail clippings were sent for direct KOH microscopy and fungal culture. Direct microscopy of the nail clips in 20% KOH solution was positive in 183 (33.27%) and culture was positive in 396 (72%) cases. Non-dermatophyte moulds (NDM) were isolated in 232 (42.18%), yeasts in 91 (16.55%), dermatophytes in 52 cases (9.45%). Amongst the NDMs, Aspergillus spp. was the most prevalent species followed by Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp. There is a shift in the aetiology of onychomycosis from yeasts and dermatophytes to non-dermatophyte moulds (NDMs) in our study. Change in the causative aetiology of onychomycosis as well as the emergence of drug resistant fungi and consequent treatment failures make it mandatory for culture of the mycological agents to know the distribution and epidemiology of fungal agents of onychomycosis.
Email: drkaur@hotmail.com