Nail Fungal Infections Can Be Hard to Treat

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Nail Fungal Infections Can Be Hard to Treat

Mon 5 July, 2004 14:52

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Depending on the microbe involved, white

superficial onychomycosis (WSO), a fungal infection of finger or toe

nails, can be hard to treat, Italian researchers report.

In order to characterize such infections, Drs. Bianca Piraccini

and Antonella Tosti of the University of Bologna reviewed the records

of 79 patients with WSO seen at their hospital over a period of about

9 years. The researchers' findings are published in the Archives of

Dermatology.

Seventy-three percent of the infections were caused by a fungus

called Trichophyton interdigitale. The next most common cause was by

fungi of the genus Fusarium.

WSO can be difficult to manage if the infection is deep and wide, Dr.

Piraccini told Reuters Health. In such cases, a combination of

antifungal agents plus surgery may be required.

Knowing which fungus is causing the infection and the health status

of the patient can help doctors select the best treatment.

SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology, June 2004.