Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Type of Organism in
Fungal Foot Infection and Toenail Onychomycosis
in Thai Diabetic Patients
Rasita Assadamongkol MD*, Raweewan Lertwattanarak MD**, Taweesak Wannachalee MD**,
Sumanas Bunyaratavej MD***, Charussri Leeyaphan MD***, Lalita Matthapan BSc***
Affiliation :
* Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
** Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital,
Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
*** Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known and important predisposing factor for toenail onychomycosis and fungal
foot infection. DM also increases the risk of patient developing secondary bacterial infection if fungal infection goes
unrecognized and untreated.
Objective : To assess the prevalence and risk factors of toenail onychomycosis and fungal foot infection in Thai diabetic
patients.
Material and Method: This single center cross-sectional observational study recruited type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients
older than 18 years who attended Siriraj Hospital between October 1, 2012 and November 30, 2013. Patient demographic
data, clinical data, and medical history were collected by questionnaire and assessed. Diagnosis of fungal infection was
confirmed by potassium hydroxide investigation and fungal culture was performed to identify the type of organism.
Results : One hundred forty four diabetes outpatients were enrolled and 38.9% were men. The mean (±SD) age was
59.6±12.7 years. Fungal infection was diagnosed 46 cases (31.9%). There were 28 cases (61%) with only toenail
onychomycosis, two cases (4%) with only fungal foot infection, and 16 cases (35%) with co-infection (fungal foot infection
and toenail onychomychosis). The organisms identified as causing fungal foot infection and toenail onychomycosis were
dermatophytes (44.4% and 34.1%, respectively), non-dermatophytes (44.5% and 47.7%, respectively), and Candida species
(5.6% and 4.5%, respectively). Risk factors found to be significantly correlated with toenail onychomycosis and fungal foot
infection were male gender (p = 0.001), age older than 60 years (p = 0.006), agriculture-related activities (p = 0.006),
family history of dermatophytosis (p = 0.034), and co-morbidity coronary heart disease (p = 0.044). No significant association
was found for BMI, duration of DM, HbA1c, and diabetes related complications.
Conclusion : Prevalence of fungal foot and toenail infection in Thai diabetes patient was 31.9%. We found higher prevalence
of non-dermatophyte organisms as the cause of dermatomycosis and toenail onychomycosis. Accordingly, clinical diagnosis
without proper culture identification may result in treatment failure.
Keywords : Fungal foot infection, Toenail onychomycosis, Diabetes mellitus
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