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Etiology of foot intertrigo in the District of Afyonkarahisar, Turkey: a bacteriologic and mycologic study
Semsettin Karaca1, Mustafa Kulac, Zafer Cetinkaya
1Department of Dermatology, Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Afyon, Turkey. skaraca@aku.edu.tr
Background:
Foot intertrigo, occurring in the interdigital space, is mostly caused initially by dermatophytes and yeasts and less frequently by gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. With time, a "complex" may develop in the setting of moisture and maceration that contains multiple fungal and bacterial organisms.
Methods:
We examined and sampled 84 patients with toe web intertrigo for bacteriologic and mycologic studies.
Results:
In the culture media, the prominent isolated pathogens as single agents were coagulase-negative staphylococci in 17.9% of patients, which is assessed as contamination from skin flora; Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 16.7%; dermatophytes, Corynebacterium minutissimum, and Staphylococcus aureus each in 11.9%; beta-hemolytic streptococcus in 2.4%; and Proteus mirabilis in 1.2%. However, we recovered double pathogens from patients with foot intertrigo as mixed infection in 19 patients (22.6%). The most common predisposing factors were exposure to spa pools and ablutions.
Conclusions:
Several pathogens and factors might play a role in toe web infections. Therefore, clinical and microbiologic studies are suggested to assist in the selection of appropriate treatment and the prevention of important complications of toe web infections.
Insights
Foot intertrigo involves multiple pathogens, including fungi and bacteria. Identifying these agents and predisposing factors like spa pool exposure is crucial for effective treatment and preventing complications.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Foot intertrigo commonly affects the interdigital space, initially caused by fungi (dermatophytes, yeasts) and bacteria.
- Moisture and maceration can lead to complex infections involving multiple microbial organisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bacteriologic and mycologic profiles of patients with toe web intertrigo.
- To identify common predisposing factors associated with foot intertrigo.
Main Methods:
- Bacteriologic and mycologic studies were performed on samples from 84 patients with toe web intertrigo.
- Cultures were analyzed to identify isolated pathogens.
Main Results:
- Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequent single agent (17.9%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.7%).
- Dermatophytes, Corynebacterium minutissimum, and Staphylococcus aureus were each isolated in 11.9% of cases.
- Mixed infections with double pathogens were found in 22.6% of patients, with spa pool exposure being a common predisposing factor.
Conclusions:
- Multiple pathogens and factors contribute to toe web infections.
- Clinical and microbiologic studies are essential for selecting appropriate treatments and preventing complications.
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