Onychomycosis in Rome, Italy

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Mycology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Onychomycosis, a common fungal nail infection, presents varied etiological profiles.
• Understanding regional prevalence and causative agents is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of onychomycosis in Rome.
• To identify the primary fungal agents responsible for hand and foot onychomycosis.

Main Methods:

• A decade-long observational study (1985-1994) involving 6,688 patients in Rome.
• Microscopic and cultural examinations were performed on 1,657 patients with confirmed fungal nail infections.

Main Results:

• Fungal nail infections affected 26.3% of patients, with yeasts (59.1%) being the predominant etiological agents, followed by dermatophytes (23.2%) and non-dermatophytic fungi (17.6%).
• Candida species were the most common cause of fingernail infections (50.3%), while dermatophytes predominated in toenail infections (48%).
• Fungal infections were more prevalent in women (72.1%) and individuals over 50 years old.

Conclusions:

• Yeasts, especially Candida spp., are the leading cause of onychomycosis in Rome, with distinct etiological patterns for hand versus foot infections.
• Dermatophytes like Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes are significant causes of toenail infections.
• The findings highlight the importance of accurate etiological diagnosis for targeted onychomycosis management.