Onychomycosis in Rome, Italy

Abstract

This report presents the results of a study conducted between 1985 and 1994 on onychomycosis observed in the city of Rome. Six thousand six hundred and eighty eight patients were examined during this period. Among them 1,762 (26.3%) were affected by fungal nail infections. Because the etiologic agents could not be isolated in 105 cases (6%), the results refer to 1,657 subjects (24.8% of the total), presenting with positive microscopic and cultural examinations. Thirty eight patients (2.3%) had onychomycosis of both their hands and feet. From an etiological point of view, 59.1% of the nail infections were caused by yeasts, 23.2% were infected with dermatophytes and 17.6% by non-dermatophytic fungi. The etiology of onychomycosis of the hands differed from that of the feet. Yeasts were primarily responsible for onychomycosis of the hands (86.2%), while dermatophytes caused tinea unguium peduum (48%). Fungal fingernail infections by Candida spp. were the most common (50.3%), followed by those of the feet by dermatophytes (20%). Candida albicans was responsible for 70.6% of the hand infections but for only 15.9% of those of the feet. Trichophyton rubrum and T mentagrophytes were the most common dermatophytes, mainly causing toenail infections (23.4% and 21%, respectively), while Aspergillus spp., Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Acremonium spp. and Aspergillus niger were the most common non-dermatophytes observed. With regard to sex, the fungal nail infections were more widespread in women (72.1%) and in subjects of both sexes over the age of 50.

Onychomycosis in Iran: Epidemiology, Causative Agents and Clinical Features

“…In contrast, studies carried out by other investigators have demonstrated a greater prevalence of dermatophytes as etiological agents of onychomycosis 7,19−21) . Based on Rubio Calvo et al 21) , Mercantini 20) , Iaannidou et al 22) , Mügge 7) and El Sayed et al 19) , the prevalence of onychomycosis with dermatophytic origin was 14.7%, 23.7%, 52%, 68% and 77.1%, respectively.…”

Fungal agents in different anatomical sites in Public Health Services in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

“…Onychomycosis of fingernails is most 8 prevalent in females while toenail infection is common in male patients 1,57 . Candida species is the dominant cause of onychomycosis in women and dermatophytes is the principal cause of this condition in men 35,51 . According to CROCCO et al 13 , candidiasis expresses the variety of relations that occur between the host and autochthon microbiota, ranging from commensalism to systemic disease.…”

A Study on Clinico-Mycological Profile, Aetiological Agents and Diagnosis of Onychomycosis at a Government Medical College Hospital in Kashmir

“…Adhikari et al, also found a higher prevalence of onychomycosis in similar age groups [19]. In contrast, Velez et al, and Mercantini et al, reported higher prevalences among adults who were over 50 years of age [16,20]. The increased prevalence of onychomycosis at young ages could be because of occupation related trauma, cosmetic awareness and shoe wearing habits.…”