Korean J Med Mycol.
2018 Jun;23(2):45-53. 10.17966/JMI.2018.23.2.45.
Epidemiology and Identification of Organisms Causing Superficial Dermatomycoses at Tertiary Hospitals in Korea: A Prospective Multicenter Study
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea. hcko@pusan.ac.kr
- 2Department of Dermatology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
- 5Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea.
- 6Department of Dermatology, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea.
- 7Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 8Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea.
- 9Department of Dermatology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
- 10Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
- 11Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
- 12Department of Dermatology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
- 13Department of Dermatology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Korea.
- KMID: 2435702
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.17966/JMI.2018.23.2.45
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
Superficial dermatomycoses are fungal infections of the skin, hair, or nails and are most commonly caused by dermatophytes. Superficial dermatomycoses are very common diseases in the field of dermatology; however, their prevalence and clinical characteristics vary with geographical areas and populations. Moreover, pathogenic species change constantly over time.
OBJECTIVE
This multicenter study aimed to investigate the epidemiologic and clinical findings of tinea corporis, tinea faciale, and tinea capitis in Korea during 2016-2017. In addition, we sought to identify the pathogenic organism causing these three different types of fungal infections.
METHODS
Total 453 patients from the dermatology clinics of 13 tertiary hospitals in Korea were enrolled in this study. Information regarding demographic characteristics, comorbidities, occupation, family history of superficial dermatomycoses, suspected routes of infection, and treatment was collected. Fungal cultures and molecular analyses were performed for patients with tinea corporis, tinea faciale, and tinea capitis.
RESULTS
Of the 453 patients, 275 were men and 178 were women. With respect to past history, 214 patients (53.4%) had at least one comorbidity. Tinea corporis (27.3%) was the most common form of superficial dermatomycosis, followed by tinea pedis (23.2%) and tinea unguium (16.6%). Overall, the fungal culture positivity was 77.8% (126/162). Trichophyton rubrum was the most common causative organism for tinea corporis (66.7%, 68/80) and tinea faciale (43.8%, 14/23), while Microsporum canis was the most common causative organism for tinea capitis (36.7%, 11/23).
CONCLUSION
Trichophyton rubrum was consistently the most common causative organism of superficial dermatomycoses, except for tinea capitis in Korea.
