Abstract

MEJIA-ARANGO, MARÍA ADELAIDA et al. Etiological and epidemiological study on superficial mycoses performed in a referral laboratory center - Antioquia -Colombia. CES Med. [online]. 2013, vol.27, n.1, pp.7-19. ISSN 0120-8705.

Introduction: Superficial mycoses are frequent infections caused by yeasts, dermatophytes and environmental molds on keratinized tissue. Objectives: To characterize the species of dermatophytes, yeasts and environmental molds that cause superficial mycoses and to analyze their relationship to sex, age and localization in patients evaluated at the Tropical Medical Institute in Valle de Aburrá Antioquia during the time period 2008-2011. Materials and methods: A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study was performed, and 2282 samples from 1645 patients were included. Patients of all ages were included with a presumptive diagnosis of a superficial mycosis. A KOH was performed with culture of material from the lesions. The characterization of the fungi was done according to morphology and biochemical studies. Results: Out of 1645 patients 1182 (71.8 %) were women and the average age was 44.3 years. From the 2282 samples taken the mycological identification could be done in 82,6 % of them and the microorganisms most frequently isolated were Candida spp (25 %); Fusarium spp, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida Krusei each represented 10 % and Rhodotorula was isolated in 8 % of samples. Hand and feet onychomycosis was the most frequent superficial fungal infection. Conclusions: Superficial mycoses are frequent pathologies that vary according to age, sex and the diagnostic methods used. The pertinent diagnosis constitutes one of the main tools for a timely and efficacious treatment, avoiding therapeutic failures and the appearance of resistant strains.

Keywords : Superficial mycosis; Dermatophytes; Yeasts; Molds.

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