Study of Superficial Fungal Infections among Diabetes Patients at Diabetic Center in Zliten City-Libya

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined superficial fungal infections (SFIs) among 117 diabetic patients at Dermatology Outpatient Department of Zliten Diabetes Center. Samples were collected from skin, nails, hair, Oral mucosa, and interdigital areas.  Fungal identification was performed using culture methods, microscopy, Wood’s lamp examination, and potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation. Positive fungal growth was detected in 105 samples (89.7%). Dermatophytes accounted for 53.3% of isolates, with Trichophyton violaceum (14.3%) and Trichophyton soudanense (11.4%) being the most common. Non-ermatophytes represented 46.7%, with Candida spp. (29.5%) as the predominant species, followed by Aspergillus (5.7%), Cladosporium (4.8%), Fusarium (4.8%), and Geotrichum (1.9%). The most commonly affected sites were nails (32.4%) and interdigital areas (33.3%). Statistically significant associations were observed between fungal type and age, HbA1c, Weight, diabetes type, site of infection,. No significant associations were observed with gender, diabetes duration. These findings highlight the impact of clinical and demographic factors among diabetic patients in Zliten.