CARACTERIZACIÓN MICROBIOLÓGICA DE AGENTES CAUSANTES DE ONICOMICOSIS EN TRABAJADORES DEL MERCADO MAYORISTA AMBATO

Abstract

Onychomycosis has become a public health problem in Ecuador, generating a negative and significant impact on people's quality of life. The present study aimed to microbiologically characterize the agents causing onychomycosis in samples of nail lesions of workers at the Ambato Wholesale Market in the period October 2023 - May 2024. In this research, a non-experimental cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study was carried out in which a quantitative and qualitative approach was applied due to the identification of yeast-like mycotic agents and their sensitivity and resistance profile to antifungals in nail lesions of workers. From 212 participants undergoing the research, of which 111 met the requirements and toenail samples were taken, the following results were obtained: a total of 33 positive samples were identified where Candida spp. representing around 69.7%, Trichsoporum rubrum with 12.1%, Epidermophyton floccosum in 9.1% and Aspergillus with 9.1%. It is important to take into account that the Mycosel Agar culture medium was used. In the same way, Candida albicans was identified by culture in CHROMagar in 87%, with Candida parasilopsis 13%. In the samples analyzed, the main agents were Candida species, with a predominance of C. albicans followed by C. parapsilosis and sensitivity to Fluconazole was identified in 90% for C, albicans while in C. parapsilopsis this response was 33.33% and for Itraconazole it was observed that C. parapsiolpsis was sensitive in 100% while for C. albicans the sensitivity was 95%. In response to this, a diagnostic protocol for onychomycosis was developed, with improvement actions in the pre-analytical and analytical phase applicable in the Zamora Ambato Clinical and Bacteriological Laboratory.