One of the important health issues of elderly people is fungal infections and these infections are mostly encountered in closed communities in which use of shared items is frequent. Detection and follow-up the rate of fungal infections among nursing home residents may prevent spreading and complications. In this study we aimed to determine the rate of fungal infections and types of causative agents among nursing home residents. Dermatologic examinations of 80 residents were performed. Fungal infection was suspected and skin scrapings for mycological examination and fungal culture were taken in 65 of them. Hyphae or spores were seen in 23 (35.4 %) by direct microscopic examination, and mycological cultures were positive in 17 (26.2 %) of them.

Isolated agents from mycological culture were Trichophyton rubrum in 6 (35.3 %) samples, Epidermophyton floccosum in 5 (29.5 %) samples, Fusarium spp. in 2 (11.8 %) samples, Candida spp. in 2 (11.8 %) samples, Trichophyton tonsurans in 1 (5.8 %) sample and Trichophyton mentagrophytes in 1 (5.8 %) sample. As a conclusion, the rate of fungal infections and distribution of causative agents in nursing home residents were not different from other elderly population. We think nursing homes were not a risk factor for fungal infections.