RELEVANCE
It was of interest to carry out the integrated use of a number of methods in studying the course of onychomycosis of mixed etiology, using the example of a patient using naftifine hydrochloride solution 1% for treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To study changes in the morphology of fungal colonies and their constituent cells, as well as tissue forms of fungi in the nail plates as a result of the action of a 1% solution of naftifine hydrochloride on the pathogens of onychomycosis during a 6-month treatment in a 30-year-old patient as an example using microbiological and histological methods and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
For a cultural study, the pieces of affected nails of the second and third fingers of the patient’s left hand were cultured on Sabouraud’s medium. The fungus culture was grown in a thermostat at 27°C and studied 20 days after inoculated. To identify fungi, PAS staining with hematoxylin was used. SEM was used to study cultures of fungus isolated from affected nails before and during treatment.
RESULTS
The microbiological effect of naftifine hydrochloride solution 1% on the structure of the colonies of T. rubrum and their constituent cells was expressed by a decrease in their growth rate, color intensity, and also depigmentation of most of them. Histological examination of the nails noted the elimination of yeast in the lateral parts of the nails, a significant decrease in the incodence of T. rubrum hyphae in the distal and lateral parts of the nails, a decrease in the extent of hyphae, and the disappearance of lateral branching. Electron microscopy revealed a decrease in the occurrence of the apical segments of hyphae of the vegetative mycelium and a change in their orientation (from vertical to horizontal), the absence of sporulation in the form of macroconidia, and the presence of strongly deformed and perforated cell walls for the majority of hyphae.
CONCLUSION
Naftifine hydrochloride solution 1% not only inhibits ergosterol synthesis of the cell membranes of the fungus, but also causes the formation of numerous perforations in the cell wall of T. rubrum, and also inhibits the apical growth of the fungus.
