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Byline: Manasa. Kayarkatte, Archana. Singal, Deepika. Pandhi, Shukla. Das, Sonal. Sharma Background: Diagnosis of onychomycosis involves direct microscopic examination with potassium hydroxide, culture or histopathology with periodic acid-Schiff staining. Nail [...]

Background Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) has increased. They are known to cause skin complications, as documented by observations in the healthcare workers. However, the data regarding the same remains unexplored in the general population. This study is aimed to fill this knowledge gap. Methods A questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 121 dermatologists, noting how often they have observed PPE related skin conditions. Results Majority of them (81.8%) reported a rise in cases like contact dermatitis, dry hands, contact urticaria, cuts on the nose and ears, which was attributable to PPE. A flare of pre-existing dermatoses like acne, seborrheic dermatitis, hair loss, rosacea, and skin infections were also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Onychomycosis (OM), has a worldwide prevalence of 5% and 0.5%‐5% in India. Trichophyton. rubrum (T rubrum) and T mentagrophytes are the most commonly isolated fungi. As the clinical and mycological characteristics change with time and geographical region; it is important to study the temporal and topographic patterns periodically. The study was conducted to identify the epidemiological and clinico‐mycological characteristics of patients with OM attending a tertiary care hospital in Delhi. Hundred patients with clinical diagnosis of OM were recruited. Among these, 88 patients who tested positive for OM on direct microscopy with KOH, culture and/or histopathology with periodic acid‐Schiff were included in the study. The clinico‐mycological characteristics and risk factors associated with OM were evaluated. OM was more common in males (M:F = 2.5:1). The mean age of patients with OM was 39 ± 15.3 years (SE 1.52) with mean disease duration of 27.6 ± 46.1 months (SE 4.9). Seventeen (19.3%) patients had concomitant diabetes mellitus. The patients displayed mean body mass index (BMI) of 25.67 ± 1.35 kg/sq m. Concurrent dermatophytosis of skin was present in 35 (39.77%) patients. Two feet‐one hand syndrome was present in 5 patients. Fingernail involvement without toenail involvement was more common than toenail involvement alone. (43.18% vs 38.63%). Distal and lateral subungual OM (DLSO) was the commonest clinical variant (81.8%). Mycological culture showed growth in 47 (53.40%) patients. Dermatophytes were isolated in majority, that is in 30 (63.82%) patients followed by non‐dermatophytic moulds (NDM) in 7 (14.8%) and Candida spp. in the remaining 10 (21.27%) patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]