1Associate Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, M.R. Medical College, Kalaburgi
2Tutor/PG Student, Dept. of Microbiology, M.R. Medical College, Kalaburgi
*Corresponding Author: Email: drsunilkb@yahoo.com
Online published on 20 June, 2017.
Onychomycosis, the commonest presentation of deformed nails is caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte moulds (NDM) or yeast. Clinical presentation varies from onychodystrophy, subungual hyperkeratosis, onycholysis or discolouration of nail plate.
Identification of the causative fungal organisms and to compare the clinical diagnosis with positivity of KOH examination and fungal culture.
78 clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis were taken. After disinfecting the nails with 70% alcohol, KOH mount and fungal culture was done followed by LPCB mount.
44 patients had onychomycosis with 31–40 yrs (40.9%) as common age group and male preponderance (63.63%). Male: Female ratio 1.75: 1. Toe nails (61.36%) were predominantly involved with Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (56.8%) as the most common presentation. KOH positivity (63.1%) was more than culture positivity (57.8%). Dermatophytes (54.54%) were the commonest group isolated followed by NDM (25%) and yeasts (20.45%). Trichophyton rubrum(31.81%) was the commonest among dermatophyteswhile among NDM, Fusarium spp (9.09%) was most common. Candida albicans (11.36%) was most common among yeasts.
Clinical diagnosis of onychomycosis should be confirmed both by KOH and fungal culture to prescribe species specific antifungal drugs for optimal outcome.
Onychomycosis, Dermatophytes, Non-dermatophyte moulds, Yeasts
