Frequency of Dermatophytoses

Dermatophytosis is a fungal infection caused by dermatophytes, which have the ability to invade keratinized tissues such as hair, nail and skin. Epidemiology of the disease depends on age as well as prevailing hygiene, socioeconomic status and cultural conditions. This descriptive study was conducted from March 2006 to March 2007 at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, on 599 patients with suspected cutaneous fungal infection at Dermatology Clinic of Ghaem Hospital Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Direct examination of smears and culture on SCC were used to diagnose the infection in mycology labs of Ghaem Hospital and Mashhad branch of ACECR. Overall, 384 patients had fungal infection [64.1%], out of which 137 cases were suffering from dermatophytosis. Numbers of male and female cases were 91 and 46 respectively [p= 0.002]. Maximum infection rate found in 21-30 years age group and tinea corporis was the most common dermatophytic infection [56.2%] followed by tinea cruris [20.4%] and tinea pedis [13.8%]. The frequencies of etiological agents isolated from patients were as follows: Tricophyton rubrum, 44.5%; Epidermophyton floccosum, 21.9%; Tricophyton mentagrophyte, 11%; Tricophyton verrucosum, 7.3% and Microsporum canis, 7.3%. Since high prevalence of dermatophytosis reported in this study, public education on the potential risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of the disease are recommended and more studies to determine the main agents of dermatophytosis in other regions of our country are necessary

Comparative study of oral azithromycin and systemic meglumine antimoniate [Glucantime] in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Complications and resistance to pentavalent antimonial agents in cutaneous leishmaniasis, exhibit the need for effective alternative drugs. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of oral azithromycin with systemic meglumine antimoniate [Glucantime] in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Forty-seven patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis visited at the dermatology department of Qaem hospital were randomly divided to two groups. Twenty patients [with 29 lesions] were treated with oral azithromycin 500 mg/day for 5 successive days each month for 4 months and 27 patients [with 58 lesions] were treated with systemic Glucantime 60 mg/kg/day for 20 days. Azithromycin group patients were visited monthly and control group patients were visited in last day of treatment and 45 days later. At the end of our study 10.3% of lesions in azithromycin group showed complete response, 27.6% lesions partial response and 62.1% no response. In Glucantime group 34.5% of lesions showed complete response, 13.8% partial response and 51.7% no response [P=0.036]. In treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis systemic Glucantime is superior to oral azithromycin. Differences between our result and previous studies may be due to difference between strains of Leishmanias and in vitro studies may be necessary to resolve this paradox. On the other h and, change in dosage and course of treatment with azithromycin may affect the efficacy of this agent