title: Isolation of fungi from onychomycosis-suspected nails by two methods: clipping and drilling.
abstract: We examined 101 nails clinically suspected of onychomycosis by taking specimens with two different techniques: clipping and drilling. We then compared the mycological results of these two techniques. The microscopic results were similar, but culture was more successful with the clipping technique. Twenty-seven per cent of specimens obtained by clipping were culture positive for dermatophytes compared with 20% obtained by drilling and a combined positivity rate of 31%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D009262:Nails / Q000382:microbiology*; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification*