Onychomycosis in Patients with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities

Area of Science:

• Medical Care
• Infectious Diseases
• Podiatry

Background:

• Lifespans of individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) have increased due to advances in medical care and nursing.
• While respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary diseases are common in SMID populations, foot care, specifically onychomycosis, is underreported.
• Onychomycosis impacts the quality of life (QOL) for SMID patients and poses an infection risk to caregivers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first findings on the prevalence and characteristics of onychomycosis in individuals with SMID residing in long-term care facilities.
• To describe the clinical presentation and causative agents of onychomycosis in this specific patient group.

Main Methods:

• A case series approach was used to present five instances of onychomycosis in patients with SMID.
• Clinical data, including age, hospitalization duration, and severity scores, were collected.
• Fungal identification was performed to determine the causative agents.

Main Results:

• Five cases of onychomycosis were identified in patients with SMID in a long-term care setting.
• The mean age of affected individuals was 58 years, with a mean hospitalization of 41 years.
• The mean Scoring Clinical Index for Onychomycosis was 16.73, indicating moderate severity. Trichophyton rubrum was the sole identified causative fungus.

Conclusions:

• Onychomycosis is present in individuals with SMID in long-term care facilities, with Trichophyton rubrum being the predominant pathogen.
• Addressing onychomycosis is crucial for improving the QOL of SMID patients and preventing its spread to caregivers.
• Further research into effective foot care management strategies for SMID populations is warranted.