The prevalence and management of onychomycosis in diabetic patients

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing throughout the world. Diab etic patients must cope with the serious complications of this condition, s uch as renal disease, retinopathy and the diabetic foot. To date, very few studies have examined the prevalence of onychomycosis among diabetic subjec ts. However, two recent studies highlight an increased incidence of onychom ycosis and other superficial fungal infections in these patients. Nail and other fungal skin infections pose a greater risk in this patient population because of the possible sequelae. In addition, impaired sensation in the l ower extremities can mask minor abrasions and ulcerations on a diabetic pat ient's foot, which may develop into serious bacterial infections and contri bute to the severity of the diabetic foot. Given the potential morbidity th at may result from fungal infections of the extremities, effective treatmen t is of paramount importance. An ideal antifungal agent should combine a br oad spectrum of activity with good efficacy and a favorable safety profile.