Various yeast infections. About 835 cases

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to determine the mycoses caused by yeasts in our laboratory. Data were collected over a 5-year period from mycologic investigations carried out on all samples realised or send to the mycology laboratory at the CHU Ibn Sina of Rabat. In the period between January 1999 and December 2003, a total of 4038 specimens were collected. The total number of patients included in this study was 820, 68.2% [n=560] of whom were females and 31.7% [n=260] were males. The age ranged from 1 month to 71 years. A total of 835 yeasts were isolated [20.7%]. Candida albicans [n=356] was the most prevalent, followed by Malassezia furfur [n=283]. Other Candida species [n=130], Rhodotorula spp. [n=65], and Geotrichum spp. [n=1] had also been isolated. The onychomycosis caused by the yeasts represented 50.9%. This study showed that 20.7% of patients had infections due to yeast. The majority of patients were females. Candida albicans as the principal yeast isolated followed by Malassezia furfur. Non albicans species are more and more reported. High incidence of yeasts was documented in finger onychomycosis caused by Candida albicans [59.5%]. Malassezia furfur was the principal yeast isolated from skin and scalp [74%]