Background: The actual burden of fungal infections in Nigeria is uncertain due to the dearth of research in medical mycology. Evidence generated from dissertations is often overlooked, becoming moribund if not appropriately disseminated. The objectives of this study were to assess dissertations submitted to the Faculty of Pathology, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, for medical mycology-centred research and ascertain their dissemination by scientific communication.
Materials and methods: Dissertations accepted by the faculty of pathology from 1980 to 2017 were analysed and categorised into respective subdisciplines. Medical microbiology dissertations were further categorised into bacteriology, parasitology, virology and mycology. The proportion of titles under each subcategory was determined. A literature search was conducted to determine if mycology-related dissertations were published in peer-reviewed journals.
Results: Six hundred dissertations were indexed under the faculty of pathology. There were 95 (15.8%) medical microbiology dissertations. The distribution of subject matter was bacteriology 62 (65.3%), parasitology 13 (13.7%), virology 15 (15.8%) and mycology 5 (5.3%). Two dissertations in anatomic pathology dealt with fungi. Mycology-related dissertations accounted for 0.8% of all dissertations submitted. Research focused on Candida, Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii, dermatophytes and others. At least 57.1% of mycology-related dissertations were disseminated by means of publication in peer-reviewed journals and/or abstract at scientific conferences.
Conclusion: Mycology is a neglected research domain amongst post-graduates in the faculty. Scientific communication of research findings was above average.
Keywords: Dissertation; Nigeria; medical mycology; pathology.