Epidemiological and etiological characterization of superficial mycoses in a general hospital in Buenos Aires

Superficial mycoses are prevalent worldwide. This study analyzed their epidemiology and etiological agents in a general hospital in Buenos Aires. A descriptive, retrospective, and observational study was conducted, including 1584 patients and 1726 samples processed between September 2021 and June 2024. Overall, 57.5% of the samples were positive. Dermatophytosis accounted for 91.3% of the isolates, mainly affecting adult women and pediatric patients. The most frequent clinical manifestations were onychomycosis (66%), tinea corporis (17%), and tinea capitis (14.5%). The predominant species were Trichophyton rubrum (50.1%), Trichophyton tonsurans (36.0%), and Microsporum canis (10.6%). In children, tinea capitis predominated, associated with T. tonsurans and linked to barbershop-related exposure, while in adults, onychomycosis caused by T. rubrum was most common. These findings highlight the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and optimize diagnostic and preventive strategies to reduce the impact on the population.