Related Experiment Videos
[Fungal and bacterial nail infections]
1Laboratoire de mycologie Hôpital Saint-Louis 75010 Paris.
Abstract:
Fungal and bacterial infections are very common causes of nail deformity. The majority of fungal nail infections are caused by dermatophytes. Dermatophytosis result from a human contamination. A dermatophyte is always a pathogenic agent. Very effective drugs are available to treat dermatophyte nail infections. Yeasts of the genus Candida, notably C. albicans are the second most common cause of nail infection. The infections of nails due to Candida and bacteria are related with Candida sp and bacteria which are common commensals of the gastrointestinal tract, vagina or skin. Except C. albicans which is always a pathogen of skin, the other species of Candida and the bacteria could be a commensal of the skin, a colonizer of a dermatological disease or a true pathogen of nail. It is important to consider these different situations. More rarely, environmental moulds, most often known as saprophytic agents, can affect nails. They do not respond to conventional antifungal drugs. So, their diagnosis do not suffer any error. In order to evaluate properly the patient with possible fungal or bacterial infection of nails and also to choice an accurate therapy, the laboratory confirmation is essential. Clinical diagnosis is not sufficient to distinguish an infection of nails from a dermatological disease (psoriasis, traumatism) and to identify the responsible agent.
Insights
Fungal and bacterial nail infections cause common nail deformities, with dermatophytes and Candida yeasts being frequent culprits. Laboratory confirmation is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of nail infections.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Bacteriology
- Dermatology
Context:
- Nail deformities are frequently caused by fungal and bacterial infections.
- Dermatophytes are the primary cause of fungal nail infections, while Candida yeasts and bacteria are the second most common agents.
- Environmental molds can also infect nails but are less common.
Purpose:
- To highlight the importance of laboratory confirmation in diagnosing nail infections.
- To differentiate between true pathogens, commensals, and colonizers in nail infections.
- To emphasize that clinical diagnosis alone is insufficient for accurate identification and treatment.
Summary:
- Fungal nail infections are predominantly caused by dermatophytes, which are always pathogenic. Candida yeasts and bacteria are also significant causes, with varying pathogenic roles.
- While Candida albicans is consistently pathogenic, other Candida species and bacteria can be commensals, colonizers, or true pathogens.
- Environmental molds, typically saprophytic, can cause nail infections unresponsive to standard antifungal treatments.
Impact:
- Accurate laboratory diagnosis is essential for selecting appropriate therapies for nail infections.
- Distinguishing between different types of microorganisms and their roles (pathogen, commensal, colonizer) is critical for patient management.
- This understanding aids in differentiating nail infections from non-infectious dermatological conditions like psoriasis or trauma.