Umme Farwa, Shahid Ahmad Abbasi, Irfan Ali Mirza, Alina Amjad, Aamir Ikram, Nasrullah Malik, Faisal Hanif.
Non-dermatophyte moulds as pathogens of onychomycosis.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;21(10):597-600.

Objective: To determine the role and pattern of non-dermatophyte moulds as causative agents of onychomycosis. Study Design: Case series. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, from November 2009 to July 2010. Methodology: Nail clippings and nail scrapings were obtained from abnormal looking nails with treatment and detection failure for onychomycosis. Microscopic (40% potassium hydroxide mounts) examination and culture on Sabouraud\'s dextrose agar (SDA), SDA containing chloramphenicol, and SDA containing actidione and chloramphenicol were used for species identification. Results: Non-dermatophyte moulds were isolated from 32 out of the total 47 culture positive cases (68%). Alternaria alternata was the commonest species (46%). Dermatophytes were isolated from only 7 patients (15%) belonging to genus Trichophyton. Yeasts were isolated in 8 (17%). There was no fungal growth in 53% of cases. Conclusion: The non-dermatophytes should be considered important in evaluating the culture negative cases for dermatophytes as well as those cases ending up in treatment failure after empirical treatment for dermatophyte infections.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com