Clinical characteristics and mycology of cutaneous candidiasis in Ahwaz [Iran]

ABSTRACT

To study clinical characteristics and mycology of cutaneous candidiasis in Ahwaz [Iran]. Four hundered sixty one patients were examined for cutaneous candidiasis over a period of 4 years from different medical mycology laboratories in Ahwaz. Skin scrapings, nail clippings and swabs were obtained from the lesions of 461 subjects. Samples were prepared by KOH, Gram and methylene blue techniques. The samples were also cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar with chloramphenicol [SC] and kept at 37°C for one week. Isolates were identified based on germ tube test, production chlamydoconidia in cornmeal agar, growing at 45°C and API 20 C AUX kits. 257 patients 179 female and 78 male [55.7%] were observed to have candidiasis. Onychomycosis [64.2%] was the most common form of candidiasis, followed by groin candidiasis 21% and toenail candidiasis [14.8%]. Candida albicans [49.4%] was most common isolate from patients. Cutaneous candidiasis is an important candida infection in women at the ages of 21-40 years in Ahwaz and C. albicans is the commonest etiologic agent