Prevalence and characteristics of Epidermophyton floccosum skin infections: A 12-year retrospective study
Issued Date
2024-02-01
Resource Type
ISSN
09337407
eISSN
14390507
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85184677826
Journal Title
Mycoses
Volume
67
Issue
2
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Mycoses Vol.67 No.2 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Nokdhes Y.N., Leeyaphan C., Jirawattanadon P., Pongkittilar B., Sereeaphinan C., Bunyaratavej S. Prevalence and characteristics of Epidermophyton floccosum skin infections: A 12-year retrospective study. Mycoses Vol.67 No.2 (2024). doi:10.1111/myc.13702 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/97270
Title
Prevalence and characteristics of Epidermophyton floccosum skin infections: A 12-year retrospective study
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Abstract
Background: Epidermophyton floccosum (E. floccosum), an anthropophilic dermatophyte, is the primary causative agent of skin conditions such as tinea cruris, tinea pedis and tinea corporis. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of E. floccosum-induced dermatophytosis, with particular emphasis on the types of infections and demographic profiles. Methods: In this retrospective study, patient records from the dermatology outpatient clinic were scrutinized, covering the timeframe from January 2009 to December 2020. Eligibility for the study required a dermatophytosis diagnosis verified by microscopic examination and fungal culture. Results: Of the 4669 confirmed dermatophytosis cases, 82 (1.8%) were attributable to E. floccosum infection. The proportions of male and female patients with E. floccosum infections were 50.0% each. The most common presentation was tinea pedis (39.0%), followed by tinea cruris (37.8%) and tinea corporis (26.8%). The mean age at disease onset for tinea cruris was 38.7 ± 18.7 years, which was lower than that for tinea pedis (50.6 ± 14.2 years) and tinea corporis (53.5 ± 16.4 years). However, these age differences were not statistically significant. A continuous decrease in E. floccosum isolation was observed over the study period. Conclusions: There was a steady decline in the prevalence of E. floccosum dermatophytosis over the 12-year study period. Despite the decreasing trend, tinea cruris, tinea corporis and tinea pedis remained the predominant clinical manifestations of E. floccosum infection.