Abstract

AIM
The present work was undertaken in order to study the epidemiology of dermatophytoses in the island of Crete, Greece, over a 7-year period (2004-2010) and to compare the results with those reported earlier from this region and from other parts of the world.
METHODS
A total of 3236 clinical specimens obtained from 2674 patients with signs of dermatomycoses were examined by direct micropscopy and culture.
RESULTS
Overall, 392 specimens (12.1%) were proved mycologically positive for dermatophytes. The age of the patients ranged from 2 to 90 years (mean age, 41 years). Onychomycosis was the predominant clinical type of infection, followed by tinea pedis, tinea corporis, tinea capitis, tinea faciei, tinea manuum and tinea cruris. Among dermatophytes, nine species were isolated: Trichophyton rubrum (51%), Microsporum canis (18.9%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (18.4%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (5.1%), Epidermophyton floccosum (3.6%), Microsporum gypseum (1.5%), Trichophyton violaceum (0.8%), Trichophyton verrucosum (0.5%) and Trichophyton tonsurans (0.2%).
CONCLUSION
In our area, the most common dermatophyte was T. rubrum followed by M. canis. Epidemiological studies regarding the current prevalence of dermatophytes in a certain region are needed for the appropriate management of these infections and implementation of effective prevention and control measures.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Maraki S

Institution

Department of Clinical Bacteriology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. sofiamaraki@in.g

Source

Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia : organo ufficiale, Società italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia 147:3 2012 Jun pg 315-9

MeSH

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Greece
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Tinea
Young Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22648332