THE PREVALENCE OF SUPERFICIAL FUNGAL INFECTIONS IN THE ELDERLY

Objective: The main goals of this study were to determine the distribution and frequency of dermatologic diseases in geriatric patients according to age and gender, and the place of residence. Methodology: A total of 349 patients aged 65 years and over lived in elderly care centers and geriatric patients in Ahvaz Jundishapur University Hospitals were studied in winter of 2008. Specimens were collected from clinically suspected fungal infections of various body sites including toenail, fingernail, body and groin, head and scalp, face, hand, and foot. Results: The distribution of the patients in the different age groups was as follows: 16 patients in the 65-74 year age group [11 female (69%) and 5 male (31%)]; 11 patients in the 75-84 year age group [7 female (58%) and 5 male (42%)]; and 3 patients in the > 85 year age group [1 female (33%) and 2 male (67%)]. Overall, the 3 most frequent diseases in this cohort of patients were erythrasma [16 patients (53.3 %)], onychomycosis [10 patients (33.3%)] and skin yeast infections [4 patients (13.4%)]. Conclusion: In this study Corynebacterium minutissimum was the most frequent agent of infections (53.3%) followed by filamentous fungi (23.3%), C. albicans, Candida sp. and yeasts (6.7 % each). Only one dermatophyte (T. verrucosum) was isolated (3.3%).