Prevalence and Comparison of Superficial-Cutaneous Fungal Infections Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Shiraz, Iran: A Retrospective Study (2018-2021).

The use of personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks and protective measures such as repeated contact of hands with water and skin disinfectants are recommended to prevent the spread of Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, these hygiene measures may cause skin injury and skin diseases, including superficial-cutaneous-fungal infections (SCFIs). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and comparison of SCFIs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the data of patients suspected of SCFIs who had been referred to two clinical mycology laboratories in Shiraz, Iran, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were reviewed. Collected data included date of admission, demographic information, site of infection, risk factors associated with SCFIs, and results of diagnostic tests. A total of 3781 patients suspected of having SCFIs were included in the study. Among them, 1750 (46.28%) patients were positive for SCFIs, 778 (44.45%), and 972 (55.54%) belonged to the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. The highest frequency of SCFIs before and during the pandemic was observed in the age group of 21-50 years (n = 910, 52%). Dermatophytosis was the most common SCFI before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest and lowest infection sites before and during the pandemic were the fingernails (n = 496, 28.34%) and the auricle (n = 3, 0.17%), respectively. Our findings showed that the prevalence of SCFIs has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing the pattern of SCFIs might help dermatologists with initial and experimental antifungal therapy for future pandemic diseases.