Epidemiological and etiological study of foot mycosis in Tunisia

Tinea pedis and onychomycosis are among the commonest fungal diseases in the world. Recently, there has been an increase in the numbers of fungal agents implicated in these conditions.

To analyze the epidemiology of fungal foot diseases and to identify associated etiological factors in outpatients attending the Department of Dermatology of Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia.

One hundred and forty eight patients were assessed for the presence of fungal foot diseases during the period between January and April 2009. The mean age was 41.5 years (range: 2-87 years) and sex ratio was 0.8. A complete dermatological examination was performed on all subjects, and specimens of the feet were taken from patients presenting signs of tinea pedis or onychomycosis for microscopy and fungal culture.

Fungal foot infection was suspected in 71 subjects, and the diagnosis was confirmed in 67 cases (45.3%) by positive microscopy or culture. Older age and family history of mycosis were predisposing factors for foot fungal infection. The condition was caused by dermatophytes in 57.1% of cases and Candida species in 35.7%. Trichophyton rubrum and Candida parapsilosis were the predominant dermatophyte and yeast species, respectively.