Are Psoriatic Nails Predisposed to Fungal Infection? / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is a very common and widespread disorder, however the incidence of onychomycosis in psoriatic patients is not accurately assessed. OBJECTIVE: : The present study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency of fungal infections of the nails changed in the course of psoriasis and to provide an answer whether psoriatic nails are specially predisposed to fungal infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 83 psoriatic patients with nail changes participated in the study. Among them there were 25 females and 58 males, aged 18~76 years. 59 patients (71.1%) had psoriasis vulgaris, the remaining ones - 24 subjects (28.9%) suffered from arthropathic psoriasis. In any case of nail abnormalities clinically suspected of fungal infection the further mycological investigations were performed. Fungal infections were finally diagnosed on the base of direct microscopy and positive culture. The Chi2 test and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Positive mycological cultures were obtained from 15 patients (18%). The most commonly isolated fungi were moulds cultured in 6 patients (37%), followed by dermatophytes - 5 patients (31.5%) and yeast-like fungi - also 5 subjects (31.4%). Moulds and yeast-like fungi were found in both fingernails and toenails; all dermatophyte infections were diagnosed on the toenails. Psoriatic patients with fungal nail infections were older than those with negative mycological examination and the duration of psoriasis in this group of patients was also longer. Although the above differences between two studied groups were evident, they did not reach the statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the achieved results it is difficult to assess definitely whether psoriasis is a predisposing factor to the development of fungal infections of the nails.

The Presence of Yeast-like Fungi on Maxillary Prostheses with Obturators and in Post Surgical Cavities in Patients Operated on for Maxillary Neoplasms / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Majority of people have yeast-like fungi on their oral mucosa. In the case of a neoplastic disease and the use of a prosthesis with obturator, the incidence of fungi increases. OBJECTIVE: To prove the presence of yeast-like fungi prior to and after lining of the prosthesis obturator and after the use of Betadina and Silosept. Swabs were taken from the post surgical cavities and the prosthesis obturators and cultured on Sabouraud agar with gentamicin and chloramphenicol (SGC) and on IDII medium manufactured by Bio Merieux, France. METHODS: The material comprised 25 patients after removal of various maxillary tumors. All the patients had prostheses with obturators. The prostheses were disinfected with 2% solution of Silosept while the mucous membrane of the post surgical cavities was covered with 0.5% Betadina gel. RESULTS: Swab cultures taken prior to the treatment revealed the growth of C. albicans in the post surgical cavity of 80% of patients and on the prosthesis obturator in 76% of cases. C. species was found on both, the prosthesis obturator and in the post surgical cavity in 64% of patients. Mycological examination of the fungi isolated from the swab after lining of the prosthesis obturator and after the application of Betadina and Silosept revealed the presence of C. albicans on the prosthesis obturator and in the post surgical cavity in 68% of patients. Candida species was revealed in the post surgical cavity in 84% of cases and on the prosthesis obturator in 88% of patients. CONCLUSION: The presence of yeast-like fungi in post surgical cavity and on the prosthesis obturator was confirmed in about 90% of cases. The fungi may be predisposed to the inflammatory conditions, which may contribute to the neoplastic metaplasia. Applied concentrations of Betadina and Silosept preparations proved ineffective in the eradication of the fungi, that is why further investigation is necessary in order to determine effective concentrations of the above agents and/or search for other effective measures.

Fungi Inhabiting the Oral Mucosa and Soft Material Lining the Obturator of Intraoral Post-surgical Prosthesis / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing prosthetic treatment develop yeast-like fungi on their oral mucosa in 60~70% of cases. In patients treated for maxillary tumors the incidence of fungi increases. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the presence of Candida species by means of an imaging method with the use of scanning microscope picture. Using this method the authors wanted to investigate the adherence of Candida species to the surface of silicon elastomer and to evaluate their presence in the transverse section through the external lining of the post-surgical maxillary prosthesis obturator after the use of Silosept and Betadine. METHODS: The material comprised 25 patients who had undergone the maxillary surgery for various kinds of tumors. All the patients had prostheses with obturators which had been lined with a silicon material, Mucopren three weeks prior to examination. The patients were advised to use 2% Silosept solution for disinfection and 0.5% Betadine gel to apply for the night. RESULTS: The analysis of findings revealed the presence of fungi in the post-surgical cavity in 92% of the patients and on the prosthesis obturator in 96% of cases. The post-surgical section through the lining material revealed the presence of Candida species in 16% of patients, however this method does not allow an exact diagnosis of fungi. CONCLUSION: Microscopic pictures demonstrated the 96% adhesion of Candida species to external silicon elastomer lining material. The presence of Candida in the transverse sections of the soft material was revealed in 16% of patients. Adherence to the base was found to be a causative factor favouring the persistence of inflammatory condition of the prosthesis bearing area.

Fungi Inhabiting the Oral Mucosa and Soft Material Lining the Obturator of Intraoral Post-surgical Prosthesis / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing prosthetic treatment develop yeast-like fungi on their oral mucosa in 60~70% of cases. In patients treated for maxillary tumors the incidence of fungi increases. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the presence of Candida species by means of an imaging method with the use of scanning microscope picture. Using this method the authors wanted to investigate the adherence of Candida species to the surface of silicon elastomer and to evaluate their presence in the transverse section through the external lining of the post-surgical maxillary prosthesis obturator after the use of Silosept and Betadine. METHODS: The material comprised 25 patients who had undergone the maxillary surgery for various kinds of tumors. All the patients had prostheses with obturators which had been lined with a silicon material, Mucopren three weeks prior to examination. The patients were advised to use 2% Silosept solution for disinfection and 0.5% Betadine gel to apply for the night. RESULTS: The analysis of findings revealed the presence of fungi in the post-surgical cavity in 92% of the patients and on the prosthesis obturator in 96% of cases. The post-surgical section through the lining material revealed the presence of Candida species in 16% of patients, however this method does not allow an exact diagnosis of fungi. CONCLUSION: Microscopic pictures demonstrated the 96% adhesion of Candida species to external silicon elastomer lining material. The presence of Candida in the transverse sections of the soft material was revealed in 16% of patients. Adherence to the base was found to be a causative factor favouring the persistence of inflammatory condition of the prosthesis bearing area.