Nondermatophytic moulds as a causative agent of onychomycosis in tehran.
BACKGROUND
In the last few years the number of cases of nondermatophytic onychomycosis has greatly increased.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence, the clinic characteristics, and predisposing factors of nondermatophytic onychomycosis.


METHODS
All collected specimens were analyzed by direct microscopy and culture. Microscopic examination of these specimens was carried out in potassium hydroxide solution (20%) with dimethyl sulfoxide (4%). These specimens were cultured on sabouraud's glucose agar with chloramphenicol and sabouraud's glucose agar with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide. Cultures were incubated at 25 degrees C for up to 28 days and checked twice weekly for growth.


RESULTS
Nondermatophytic onychomycosis were 11.5% of all onychomycosis. We found that Aspergillus spp. were the more responsible etiologic agents of nondermatophytic onychomycosis, resulting in a total of 28 patients (59.6%). In our study other causative agents were Acremonium spp. (17%), Fusarium spp. (12.7%), Geotrichum spp. (4.2%), Trichosporun spp., (4.2%) and Scopulariopsis spp (2.1%). In our patients moulds onychomycosis developed mainly in toenails (74.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Knowing the exact pathogen is important and has implications in therapy and prognosis.
Bassiri-Jahromi
Shahindokht
S
Medical Mycology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Iran.
Khaksar
Ali Asgar
AA