Uso da Ozonioterapia em fungos causadores de Onicomicoses: estudo in vitro

Abstract

: Onychomycosis is a common fungal infection of the nails, predominantly caused by dermatophytes such as Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) and Microsporum gypseum (M. gypseum) and is a notoriously difficult condition to treat. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare, in vitro, the effectiveness of different times of ozone therapy on the main fungi that cause onychomycosis. Dermatophyte fungi T. rubrum (ATCC 28188) and M. gypseum (ATCC 24102) were incubated at 28° C for 14 days. Subsequently, the fungi were divided into 9 experimental groups according to the experimental time: Control Group (CG): the fungi were cultivated and did not receive any treatment; Cultivated fungi and received ozone therapy for a time of 2 min (G2”); 4 min (G4”); 6 min (G6”); 8 min (G8”); 10 min (G10”); 12 min (G12”); 14 min (G14”) and 16 min (G16”). The ozone concentration used was 2 µg/mL, oxygen flow of 1/4 L/min and applied dosages of 157, 314, 451, 628, 785, 943, 1100 and 1257 mg/m2, respectively. The main results show that the use of topical ozone therapy was effective in reducing the germination percentage of T. rubrum and M. gypseum in all experimental periods, presenting complete eradication with a treatment time of 6 min for T. rubrum and 14 min for M. gypseum. In conclusion, ozone therapy used topically, with emphasis on the treatment time of 6 min for T. rubrum (628 mg/m2) and 14 min (1257 mg/m2) for M. gypseum, promoted antifungal action on the main dermatophytes responsible for critical complications of onychomycosis, and may be proposed as a adjuvant in dermatological treatments.