부산대학교 도서관

Background: Superficial mycoses are fungal infections affecting the outermost layer of the skin and the appendages. Prevailing about 20-25% worldwide, onychomysosis accounts for 30% of cutaneous skin infections and 20% of all nail disorders. Dermatophytes are the major causes for onychomycosis but non-dermatophytic superficial fungal infections are in rise during the past decade. Aims and Objectives: To find the prevalence of non-dermatophytic causes of superficial mycoses in a tertiary care set up. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India. A total of 504 samples from 2019-2021 were included in the study. Samples received were processed for KOH mount and culture. Species identification was done by Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LCB) mount and Gram Stain. Results: Out of 504 samples received, 309 (61.3%) and 195 (38.7%) were positive and negative for culture respectively. Maximum culture were received from 21-40 years of age group ( 37.9%). 53% of the culture positive samples yielded dermatophytic growths, 43.1% non-dermatophytic and 3,9% mixed growths. Aspergillus and Fusarium were found to be the commonest non-dermatophytic infections followed by Penicillium and Mucorales Conclusion: With a previous study in the sample hospital shown 36.9% prevalence of nondermatophytic infections, our study demonstrated an increase in the prevalence of the same (43.1%). Non-dermatophytes may be colonizing organisms, contaminants even though they can be the primary pathogens. However, our study suggests correlation with the clinical and microbiological features to arrive at early diagnosis of non-dermatophytic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]