Abstract

NAZAR, Javier R; GEROSA, Paula E  and  DIAZ, Osvaldo A. Onychomycoses: epidemiology, causative agents and assessment of diagnostic laboratory methods. Rev. argent. microbiol. [online]. 2012, vol.44, n.1. ISSN 0325-7541.

Since March 2007 to March 2011, 414 patients with onychopathies were prospectively analyzed. Prevalence of the toenail and fingernail mycoses was 78 % and 58 %, respectively. The major etiological agents were Trichophyton rubrum, Candida spp. and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Dermatophytes were more frequently cultured from toenails, whereas Candida spp. from fingernails (both, p < 0.05). In candidal onychomycosis, species different from C. albicans were prevalent. A higher prevalence of toenail and fingernail mycoses, a predominance of T. rubrum in toenails (p < 0.05), and greater positivity in the direct examination (DE) and in culture (both, p < 0.05) were more frequently observed in men than in women. The correlation between DE and culture was 68 %. DE and culture yields were associated with a greater size lesion. DE was more effective in onycodystrophies with duration of more than 5 years. Culture positivity was independent of nail affection chronicity.

Keywords : Onychomycoses; Dermatophytes; Non-dermatophyte mycelial fungi; Yeast-like fungi; Direct microscopic examination; Nail culture.

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