The Spectrum of Non-dermatophyte Onychomycosis With Special Reference to Syncephalastrum as an Emerging Pathogen

Clinical and epidemiological research has shown that non-dermatophyte molds and yeasts account for 20-30% of onychomycosis cases. Hence, in the present study, a retrospective evaluation of suspected cases of onychomycosis over one year and one month, from January 2022 to January 2023, was conducted. Out of 44 cases, non-dermatophyte fungi were isolated in eight (18%) nail specimens on culture. We detected four isolates of <i>Aspergillus</i> spp. (including two isolates each of <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i>), two isolates of <i>Candida</i> spp.,oneisolate of <i> Fusarium</i> spp., and one isolate of <i>Syncephalastrum</i> spp. by culture. We also briefly described <i>the Syncephalastrum</i>-related review of literature, as this case is one of the rarest in India, although a few cases have been reported worldwide.