Some aspects of skin and nail mycoses basing on the data of patients of the Department of Diagnostics and Treatment of Mycoses and Parasitic Diseases at the Medical University of Lodz

Introduction: Mycoses of the skin and its appendages are found in diverse geographical regions and climate zones. Dermatophytes of genera Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton secrete various enzymes, which allow fungi to parasitize in keratinized structures of human and animal organisms. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was: (1) determination of frequency of clinical manifestations of skin and nail mycoses in patients treated at the Department of Diagnostics and Treatment of Mycoses and Parasitic Diseases, the Medical University of Lodz, with consideration given to some epidemiology data; (2) evaluation of species of fungal strains isolated from clinical lesions grouped by location of the mycosis. Material and methods: Mycosis of the skin and nails was diagnosed in 102 patients treated at the Department of Diagnostics and Treatment of Mycoses and Parasitic Diseases, the Medical University of Lodz. Patients’ age was from 8 to 76 years. Mycological diagnostics was carried out in all the patients, using the method that had been developed and applied for years in our department. The potential exogenous factors favoring fungal infections, such as tobacco smoking, medicaments taken, occupation, types of recreation, and possible contact with soil, were considered. Results: Higher prevalence of mycosis confined to the skin and nails was observed in the middle-aged and elderly patients (52.94% and 40.19%, respectively) as compared to young subjects (6.87%). However, no sex dependence was recorded, with the exception of significantly greater occurrence of clinical lesions on the hand skin of women than of men (p=0.012391). The lesions were most often observed on feet in 62 (60.78%) out of 102 patients examined. Great toenail mycosis was most frequently diagnosed, while mycosis of the remaining toenails, foot skin and intertoe spaces occurred more rarely. Hand mycosis was not so frequently detected (19 subjects – 18.62%) as foot mycosis; fungal infection of other body areas was most rare. Moreover, mycosis localized in a few foci was very sparse. Fungal strains were classified into 9 genera, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, Scopulariopsis, Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Candida and Rhodotorula, as well as into 16 species. Thirty-one (28.18%) strains were classified into T. rubrum species, and 17 (15.45%) into T. mentagrophytes. Among Candida, C. albicans strains (30-27.27%) were most often isolated. Due to a small number of patients, it was difficult to establish the relationship between risk factors and the prevalence of mycotic signs