Dermatomycosis and onychomycosis in trainees of a police academy

Abstract

In order to determine the prevalence of dermatomycosis and ungueal mycosis, we studied 213 young men who were enrolled at a police academy. They received both clinical and mycological evaluation on two separate occasions, the first one at the time of admission In apr1l1988; at this point we found that 126 of them (59.2%) had some type of superficial mycosis and that dermatophytosis represented 65.5% of the 200 lesions observed. The most frequent causative agents were: T. mentagrophytes (30.5%) y E. floccosum (18.3%). Candidiasis, trichosporiasis, pitiriasis, mixed infections and infections caused by environmental fungi were also found. AII received conventionaliocal therapy. Four months later, just before the end of their training, the 145 that were still at the academy were evaluated for the second time. In 105 of them (72.4%), some type of superficial mycosis was diagnosed, for a total of 185 lesions. Findings were similar to those of the first evaluation with dermatophytosis predominating (63.8%). E. floccosum was found in 27.1 % and T. mentagrophytes in 14.4%. Samples were also obtained from public areas specially moist ones like showers, vestiers and swimming pool and from them T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes were isolated. Besides the high initial prevalence of dermatomycosis and ungueal mycosis which reveal their importance in the environment of people evaluated, our study allows us to postulate that special conditions tied to policemen training (Intense physical exercise, sweating, insufficient drying after shower, boot wear), favor occurrence and persistence of these mycosis.