Assessing microbial landscape of onychomycosis pathogens isolated from Saratov region patients

Objective: evaluation of the effectiveness of onychomycosis diagnostics using the culture method and the etiological structure of pathogens isolated from patients in the Saratov region. Material and methods. Samples of the nail plate obtained from 1075 patients with suspected onychomycosis were studied using microscopic and cultural methods. Identification of pathogens isolated in the course of mycological examination was carried out, and dominant species were determined. Results. In 22% of patients with suspected onychomycosis, a negative result of direct microscopy and mycological examination was obtained. A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of the methods used showed that during mycological examination, the frequency of indication of pathogens of onychomycosis is higher, since with negative results of microscopy in 24% of cases their growth was observed on Sabouraud dextrose agar. It was revealed that dermatophytes prevailed in the etiological structure of pathogens (61 %) among which representatives of the genus Trichophyton dominated, yeast-like fungi were isolated in 21 %, and molds - 18%. Conclusion. The use of the cultural method makes it possible to increase the efficiency of diagnosing onychomycosis, as well as not only to detect micromycetes in the pathological material, but also to identify it, which will allow the dermatologist to prescribe an effective antifungal therapy to the patient, taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen.