ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail, is caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophyte molds. The causative pathogen and incidence of onychomycosis depend on age, gender, geographic and climatic conditions, living habits, and immune status of the host. AIM: To determine the incidence and etiologic agents of onychomycosis in the Middle Black Sea Region, Turkey. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-six specimens were collected from patients with suspected onychomycosis during January 2004 to May 2008. RESULTS: Culture positivity was obtained in 240 of the 276 samples. Dermatophytes were isolated in 225 samples. The most common causative agent of onychomycosis was Trichophyton rubrum (91) (38%), followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (49) (20.4%), Epidermophyton floccosum (41) (17%), and Trichophyton verrucosum (34) (14.2%). Seven isolates were identified as yeasts (2.9%). Nondermatophyte molds were isolated from eight samples (3.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This survey reveals that the etiologic agents of onychomycosis in our area show large discrepancies from those in other regions of Turkey and Europe.