Clinical Microbiology: Open Access

Incidence of onychomycosis among different occupational workers in Hyderabad, India

3^rd International Conference on Clinical Microbiology & Microbial Genomics

September 24-26, 2014 Valencia Convention Centre, Spain

Humaira Rizwana

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Clin Microbial

Abstract:

Onychomycosis is a nail disorder caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophytes and yeast. A clinico mycological study was conducted among individuals working in different environmental conditions for the incidence of nail disorders. This study was aimed to screen occupational workers of both sex and different age groups and also the predisposing factors. A total of 1028 individuals were screened, amongst which 417 workers were suspected with onychomycosis. Samples from suspected individuals were subjected to KOH examination and fungi were identified on Sabourauds dextrose agar medium. Nail infections were found in 143 workers. The highest incidence was recorded among farmers and gardeners followed by washermen, hotel workers, labourers and hospital workers. The most common type of onychomycosis was distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (57.42%) followed by total dystrophy (26.57%), Proximal subungual (12.58%) and Superficial white onychomycosis (7.69%) in the same order. Males recorded a higher number of nail infections than females. The most predominant dermatophytes isolated were Trichophyton rubrum. Among the nondermatophytes genus, Aspergillus was common. Our study revealed onychomycosis to be very common in individuals working with soil or in wet environmental conditions. In most instances creating awareness and personal hygiene could prevent the incidence of nail disorders.

Biography :

Humaira Rizwana has completed her PhD from Osmania University, Hyderabad. She has served as head of Botany Department in Shadan College, Osmania University. She is presently working as Assistant professor in the Department of Botany and Microbiology, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. She has specialized in medical mycology and has published papers in reputed Journals. Her research interest is keratinophilic and keratinolytic fungi and their applications in biotechnology. She has also presented and participated in conferences at both national and international level.