Analysis of pathogen spectrum changes and epidemiological characteristics of superficial mycosis in the Shantou region of China from 2022 to 2024.
Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine
The etiological spectrum of superficial mycoses varies regionally. This retrospective study investigated the clinical type composition and pathogen distribution shifts in Shantou from 2022-2024 to inform localized diagnosis and treatment. A total of 2,635 patients with positive fungal cultures from the Shantou Institute of Dermatology and Venereology were enrolled. Categorical data were compared using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests; non-normally distributed continuous data were expressed as median (IQR). Advanced visualizations (Sankey diagrams, heatmaps) were generated using Python. P < 0.05 was considered significant. The cohort comprised 1,488 males (56.47%) and 1,147 females (43.53%), with a median age of 31.0 years (IQR: 18.0-48.0). The five most common diagnoses were pityrosporum folliculitis (463, 17.57%), tinea pedis (286, 10.85%), tinea cruris (284, 10.78%), onychomycosis (273, 10.36%), and tinea corporis (243, 9.22%). Predominant pathogens were Malassezia (1,112, 42.20%), yeast-like fungi (784, 29.75%), Trichophyton rubrum (273, 10.36%), and T. mentagrophytes (252, 9.56%). Significant gender differences were observed for tinea cruris, tinea corporis, onychomycosis, and seborrheic dermatitis (all P < 0.05), but not for pityrosporum folliculitis (P = 0.754). Gender-based variations were also significant for Malassezia (P = 0.002) and T. rubrum (P < 0.001). Pathogen distribution differed significantly across age groups (all P < 0.001). The etiological spectrum in S
Abstract
The etiological spectrum of superficial mycoses varies regionally. This retrospective study investigated the clinical type composition and pathogen distribution shifts in Shantou from 2022-2024 to inform localized diagnosis and treatment. A total of 2,635 patients with positive fungal cultures from the Shantou Institute of Dermatology and Venereology were enrolled. Categorical data were compared using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests; non-normally distributed continuous data were expressed as median (IQR). Advanced visualizations (Sankey diagrams, heatmaps) were generated using Python. P < 0.05 was considered significant. The cohort comprised 1,488 males (56.47%) and 1,147 females (43.53%), with a median age of 31.0 years (IQR: 18.0-48.0). The five most common diagnoses were pityrosporum folliculitis (463, 17.57%), tinea pedis (286, 10.85%), tinea cruris (284, 10.78%), onychomycosis (273, 10.36%), and tinea corporis (243, 9.22%). Predominant pathogens were Malassezia (1,112, 42.20%), yeast-like fungi (784, 29.75%), Trichophyton rubrum (273, 10.36%), and T. mentagrophytes (252, 9.56%). Significant gender differences were observed for tinea cruris, tinea corporis, onychomycosis, and seborrheic dermatitis (all P < 0.05), but not for pityrosporum folliculitis (P = 0.754). Gender-based variations were also significant for Malassezia (P = 0.002) and T. rubrum (P < 0.001). Pathogen distribution differed significantly across age groups (all P < 0.001). The etiological spectrum in Shantou has shifted, with Malassezia now the leading pathogen. Distinct gender- and age-specific patterns warrant increased clinical vigilance and targeted prevention strategies.