A Study on the Mycological Profile of Onychomycosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northeast India.

Dr Mandira Ramudamu; Dr Wihiwot Valarie Lyngdoh; Dr Abhijit Prasad; Dr Jyotismita Rajbongshi; Dr Elantamilan Durairaj

Volume : VIII, Issue : I, January - 2018

A Study on the Mycological Profile of Onychomycosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northeast India.

Dr Mandira Ramudamu, Dr Wihiwot Valarie Lyngdoh, Dr Abhijit Prasad, Dr Jyotismita Rajbongshi, Dr Elantamilan Durairaj

Abstract :

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis refers to fungal infection of nails with various etiological agents, involving dermatophytes, yeasts and moulds. It constitutes an important health problem because of its rising prevalence and under–diagnosis especially in developing countries.

AIMS: To study the isolation rate and mycological profile of onychomycosis.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Nail samples collected from patients attending the dermatology clinic were processed in the microbiology department of our institute

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nail clippings and subungual scrapings of patients with onychomycosis were subjected to KOH preparation. Culture was done on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar medium (SDA), SDA with 5% Chloramphenicol and Cycloheximide and Dermatophyte agar. Species identification was done by colony characteristics, pigment production, slide culture and LPCB stain.

RESULTS: Out of 187 cases, isolation rate of onychomycosis was found to be 60.42%. Dermatophyte (40.7%) was the most common isolate followed by yeast (34.51%) and NDM (Nondermatophytic mould) (24.78%). Trichophyton was the only dermatophyte that was isolated. Amongst the Trichophyton which could be speciated it was Trichophyton ruum which accounted for majority of infection. Candida parapsilosis was the predominant yeast and Aspergillus niger was the commonest mould. The age group most commonly affected was 16–30yrs and males were commonly affected in our study .

CONCLUSION: The present study highlights the role of Non albicans candida and uncommon NDM apart from dermatophytes in onychomycosis and the need for microbiological confirmation in case of onychomycosis for appropriate management of onychomycosis cases and further epidemiological study.