Ann Dermatol.  2012 May;24(2):175-180.

Onychomycosis Due to Nondermatophytic Molds

• Hwang SM
• Suh MK
• Ha GY

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Although there have been many studies about onychomycosis due to nondermatophytic molds (NDM), few studies about etiologic agents including NDM in onychomycosis have been reported in Korea. Objective: This study investigated onychomycosis due to NDM in the Gyeongju area of Korea.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated onychomycosis due to NDM in the Gyeongju area of Korea.
METHODS
In the 10-year period from 1999~2009, we reviewed 59 patients with onychomycosis due to NDM. The etiologic agents were identified by cultures on Sabouraud's Dextrose agar with and without cycloheximide. In some cases, internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis was done. NDM isolated considered pathogens when the presence of fungal elements was identified by direct microscopy observation and in follow-up cultures yielding the same fungi.
RESULTS
Onychomycosis due to NDM comprised 2.3% of all onychomycosis. Of the 59 patients with onychomycosis due to NDM, 84.7% were toenail onychomycosis and 15.3% were fingernail onychomycosis. The incidence rate was highest in the fifth decade (27.1%). The ratio of male to female patients was 1:1.6. The frequency of associated diseases, in descending order, was hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cerebral hematoma. Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (86.4%) was the most common clinical type of onychomycosis. Aspergillus spp. was the most frequently isolated etiologic agent of onychomycosis due to NDM (83.0%). Other causative agents were Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (10.2%), Acremonium spp. (3.4%), Fusarium solani (1.7%), and Chaetomium globosum (1.7%).
CONCLUSION
Because of the increase in onychomycosis due to NDM, we suggest the need of a careful mycological examination in patients with onychomycosis.

Keyword

Molds; Onychomycosis

MeSH Terms

Acremonium
Agar
Aspergillus
Chaetomium
Cycloheximide
Diabetes Mellitus
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fungi
Fusarium
Glucose
Hematoma
Humans
Hypertension
Incidence
Korea
Male
Microscopy
Nails
Onychomycosis
Scopulariopsis
Sequence Analysis
Agar
Cycloheximide
Glucose

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Annual incidence of patients with onychomycosis due to nondermatophytic molds.

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  Fig. 2 Monthly distribution of patients with onychomycosis due to nondermatophytic molds.

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