Clinicoepidemiological Trends and Features of Epidermophyton floccosum Infections in Korea: Between Year 1998~2007 and 2008~2019

Background: The knowledge of the clinical features and changing epidemiology of dermatophytes helps in better managing them. Objective: This study investigated the recent epidemiologic characters of Epidermophyton floccosum from January 2008 to December 2019 and attempted to compare these with previous studies. Methods: The current study included 57 patients who visited our clinic and were diagnosed with E. floccosum infection through fungal culture between January 2008 and December 2019. Data on the date of visit, gender, age at onset, and site of infection were collected through a review of medical charts and were compared with previously reported studies. Results: The frequency of isolation of E. floccosum decreased gradually, and the infections caused by E. floccosum were 33 cases of tinea cruris, 20 of tinea pedis, and 2 each of tinea corporis and tinea unguium. The male to female ratio was 10.4:1, and most infections occurred in the 10~29 year age group. Conclusion: E. floccosum infections in Korea have been decreasing rapidly since 1987. However, the clinical features of E. floccosum infections remained unchanged even at a low incidence.