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. 2021 Jun 17;11(1):12789.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-92111-4.

Quality of life and therapeutic regimen management in onychomycosis patients and in vitro study of antiseptic solutions

Vasco Silva-Neves  1   2 , Vitor Hugo  3 , Paulo Alves  1 , João Costa Amado  1 , Carla Pais-Vieira  1 , Fátima Sousa  2 , Fátima Cerqueira  4   5   6 , Eugénia Pinto  6   7 , Miguel Pais-Vieira  8
Affiliations

Quality of life and therapeutic regimen management in onychomycosis patients and in vitro study of antiseptic solutions

Vasco Silva-Neves et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Onychomycosis or tinea unguium (EE12.1) and Onychomycosis due to non-dermatophyte moulds (1F2D.5) (OM) is a fungal infection of the nail plates with a high prevalence that often affects vulnerable people with co-existing health problems. Gold standard pharmacological treatments for onychomycosis have been associated with low success rates and increasing antifungal resistance, suggesting that treatment outcome is dependent on multiple variables. Here, the prevalence of OM and quality of life were characterized in two vulnerable populations-Hospital patients and Homeless people. Comparing both groups, the most prevalent fungal species were identified in Hospital patients. Then, the in vitro fungicidal properties of the antiseptics povidone-iodine, polyhexamethylene biguanide-betaine, octenidine dihydrochloride, and a super-oxidized solution against two ATCC strains (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) and three clinical fungal isolates from Hospital patients (Candida parapsilosis, Trichophyton interdigitale, and Trichophyton rubrum) were tested. OM prevalence was high in both patient groups studied, who also reported a reduction in quality of life and concerns about the state of their feet. In addition, Hospital patients had a non-negligent therapeutic regimen management style. Antiseptics tested in vitro revealed antifungal properties. As antiseptics are low-cost and easy to apply and have few iatrogenic effects, the demonstration of fungicidal properties of these solutions suggests that they may constitute potential supportive therapeutics for OM.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hospital Patients Group (HosPG) and Homeless People Group (HomPG) flow diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of results from the Hospital Patients Group (HosPG) and Homeless People Group (HomPG).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chart of the TRMSs of patients with OM.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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