Epidemiology of superficial mycoses in Northern Greece: a 4-year study

Superficial mycoses are defined as the fungal infections of skin, hair or nails that are caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and non-dermatophytic moulds. Dermatophytes are the most frequently isolated fungi from specimens of patients with superficial mycoses.

Studying the possible alteration of the epidemiology of superficial mycoses in Northern Greece during the last two to three decades.

Data concerning the superficial mycoses from patients coming mainly from the region of Macedonia, Northern Greece, between January 2010 and January 2014 were recorded and analysed. They included specimens from 438 patients (146 M/292 F), within an age range of 2-85 years old. 503 samples were collected from skin (81, 16.1%), hair (18, 3.6%) and nails (fingernails 84, 16.7%, toenails 320, 63.6%) lesions.

Of a total of 222 positive cultures, 50 were considered as yielding clinically non-significant isolates (saprophytes). Among the rest (172), dermatophytes were the most prevalent isolates (102, 59.3%), followed by yeasts (51, 29.7%) and non-dermatophytic moulds (19, 11%). Trichophyton rubrum (55, 53.9%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (18, 17.6%) and Microsporum canis (23, 22.5%) were the most common isolates among dermatophytes (total = 102). Candida parapsilosis (26, 51%), and Candida albicans (10, 19.6%) among yeasts (total = 51) whereas Fusarium (6, 31.6%) and Acremonium species (3, 15.8%) among the non-dermatophytic moulds (total=19).

Compared to previous studies from Northern Greece, the epidemiology of superficial mycoses in the specific geographic region seems not to have been altered the last two to three decades.