Evaluation of mycological profile of onychomycosis in a tertiary care centre in Bareilly

Abstract

Onychomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of nails which is not associated with significant morbidity and mortality but it can have negative impact on patient's emotional, social and occupational functioning. The affected nail can also serve as a chronic reservoir and can communicate the fungal infection to family members this makes onychomycosis an important public health problem. Treatment regimen and duration depends on the etiological agent. So, for the timely initiation of appropriate and effective treatment knowledge of etiological agents causing onychomycosis is required. This study was conducted to improve the knowledge of demographic and mycological profile of onychomycosis in Bareilly region. 74 nail specimens of suspected onychomycosis were evaluated clinically, KOH examination and fungal culture was done. Onychomycosis was present in 59.46% by culture and /or KOH examination. Fingernails and toenails were infected in 24.32% and 41.89% respectively and remaining 6.75% had both. Principal causative agents were dermatophytes (43.47%) with Trichophyton mentagrophytes being the most common (19.56%). In 15 (32.60%) cases, candida species and in 11 (23.91%) cases non-dermatophyte moulds have been isolated as the sole causative agent. This study demonstrated dermatophytes as the main agents causing onychomycosis in our region, as well as proves the importance of performing direct examination and culture in diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Keywords

• onychomycosis
• potassium hydroxide
• fungal culture
• dermatophytes
• non-dermatophyte moulds
• yeasts