Resumo

Onychomycosis is the nail infection caused by a wide spectrum of fungi species, including yeasts, dermatophytes and filamentous fungi nondermatophytes (FFND). This infection fungal represents an important medical problem because it involves the patient´s life quality. The aims of the present study were to determine the frequency of Candida parapsilosis as agents of nail infections from patients of a tertiary hospital in Goiânia-GO, Brazil, and to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of some antifungal agents as fluconazole, voriconazole and itraconazole, against the yeasts isolated. One hundred fourteen patients clinically suspected of having onychomycosis were examinated. The nail samples were submitted to direct examination with potassium hydroxide 20% and grown on dextrose Sabouraud agar. The in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the method of broth microdilution, recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Among 136 clinical samples collected (fingernails and toenails), 102 were positive for fungi being that C. parapsilosis was found in 31 samples. These isolates were susceptible to all antifungal agents tested. This species have been identified from different body locations including the nails. By the way it has been verified that C. parapsilosis is able to cleave keratin, representing another step in understanding the pathogenesis of onychomycosis caused by this species. Our results were similar to other works, where the yeasts are susceptible to several antifungal agents. C. parapsilosis is emerging as an opportunistic pathogen also in onychomychosis. The response obtained by in vitro susceptibility testing to drugs shows the importance of these methods to assist clinicians in choosing the best therapeutic option.