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Research Paper | Mycology Science | India | Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2014

Candida as an Emerging Pathogen of Onychomycosis: A Study Report from North India

Partha Rakshit | Ravi Kumar Gupta | Prafulla Songara | B. L. Sherwal

Abstract: Onychomycosis has a significant impact on the physical; psychosocial; and occupational problems of the patients worldwide including India. Immunosuppressive conditions have led to change in the epidemiological and clinic-mycological patterns of onychomycosis. The aim of the study was to assess the current trend of onychomycosis in North India.103 consecutive clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis were studied. Detailed epidemiological and clinical data was collected in a designed performa. Nail shavings were subjected to 10 %KOH for direct microscopy and culture. Results indicate that male and females were affected equally (1: 1.2) with mean age of 33.3 years. Farmers and housewives were found to be most affected with DLSO as most common clinical presentation.53.5 % cases were positive by direct microscopy and 41.2 % were culture positive and 36 % cases by both the methods. Candida (47.5 %) was the most common fungal pathogen followed by dermatophytes (40 %) and NDM (12.5 %). Candida albicans (32.5 %) and Trichophyton rubrum (20 %) were the most common species. Results indicate that Candida has emerged as important pathogen of onychomycosis necessitating the detailed diagnosis for appropriate therapy as it is entirely different from the dermatophytic infections and it can no longer be considered a mere cosmetic problem.

Keywords: Onychomycosis, KOH, Dermatophytes, Candida, Diagnosis, Therapy

Edition: Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2014,

Pages: 1754 - 1758