Prevalence of cutaneous mycoses among workers

Authors: ALI ZAREI MAHMOUDABADI, Baharea Izadi

Abstract: The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of cutaneous mycoses in workers employed in different areas of the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Materials and methods: In the present study 128 employees who held different positions (gardeners, lab cleaners, sanitary workers, repair workers, dishwashers, and cooks) at the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences were studied. All workers were visited by a physician and 34 (26.6%) were suspected of having cutaneous fungal diseases. Several skin scraping and nail clipping samples were collected from the study participants. In addition, the Scotch Tape method was used for sampling in cases of pityriasis versicolour. Results: The prevalence of cutaneous mycosis among the workers was 10.2%. Out of 34 workers sampled 13 (38.2%) had different types of cutaneous mycosis. Of the sampled workers who had cutaneous mycosis 6 (46.1%) were gardeners, 4 (30.8%) were sanitary workers, and the final 3 (23.1%) were dishwashers and a cook. Pityriasis versicolour (6 cases) was the most common type of cutaneous mycosis followed by candidiasis (3 cases), erythrasma (2 cases), tinea ungium (1 case), and onychomycosis (1 case). Conclusion: Cutaneous mycosis among the workers at the Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences was less prevalent than that we had expected, and it indicates that the fungal disease was well managed.

Keywords: Cutaneous mycosis, dermatophytosis, pityriasis versicolour, erythrasma

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