Clinical and Mycological Studies on Superficial Fungal Infection

Lee, Dong Kyung; Moon, Kee Chan; Koh, Jae Kyoung

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Superficial fungal infections are common dermatologic disorders, and causative organisms include dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophyte molds. The data about incidence of fungal pathogens can be used to predict increase in antifungal resistasnce and the adequacy of our current pharmacologic repertoire, and provide insight into future developments.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to identify epidemiologic features and the various organisms from clinically suspected cases of superficial fungal infection.
METHODS
A total 11,656 specimens were collected from clinically suspected tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea capitis, tinea faciei, tinea manuum, tinea pedis, and finger and toe onychomycosis among patients of Dermatologic clinic of Asan Medical Center from 1998 through 2002. Clinical and culture studies on these cases were performed. However, attemps to establish the causative organism were not done.
RESULTS
The incidence of clinically suspected cases was highest in the fifth to sixth decades. The ratio of male to female was 1.09:1. The incidence of toenail was highest, followed by feet, fingernail, trunk and extremeties, groin, scalp, and face. The positive rate of KOH examination was 49.2% and that of culture was 51.4%. Dermatophytes was the most commoly isolated fungal organisms except fingernail onychomycosis. Trichophyton rubrum was the most prevalent fungal pathogen among them. High incidence of Candida species and Trichosporon species was documented in hands, feet and nails.
CONCLUSION
Consideration of the current epidemiologic, clinical and mycologic features in the cutaneous fungal infections is of key importance to investigational efforts, diagnosis, and treatment.