Onicomicosis: epidemiología, agentes causales y evaluación de los métodos diagnósticos de laboratorio

since march 2007 to march 2011, 414 patients with onychopathies were prospectively analyzed. prevalence of the toenail and fingernail mycoses was 78 % and 58 %, respectively. the major etiological agents were trichophyton rubrum, candida spp. and trichophyton mentagrophytes. dermatophytes were more frequently cultured from toenails, whereas candida spp. from fingernails (both, p < 0.05). in candidal onychomycosis, species different from c. albicans were prevalent. a higher prevalence of toenail and fingernail mycoses, a predominance of t. rubrum in toenails (p < 0.05), and greater positivity in the direct examination (de) and in culture (both, p < 0.05) were more frequently observed in men than in women. the correlation between de and culture was 68 %. de and culture yields were associated with a greater size lesion. de was more effective in onycodystrophies with duration of more than 5 years. culture positivity was independent of nail affection chronicity.