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Incidence of occult athlete's foot in swimmers
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract:
Athlete's foot is a dermatophytic infection frequently found in adults. This disease is, in some cases, asymptomatic. In order to evaluate the incidence of subclinical infection, we obtained 300 toe-web samples from the fourth interdigital space of 150 regular swimmers. More over, 66 specimens from the pool area were analysed. The method used was the carpet technique described by Mariat et al. (10). The fungal isolates were identified according to standard methods. A list of epidemiological data was completed for every swimmer. In our results, 22 swimmers had positive cultures (15%), 8 of these cases had no lesions (36%). They included 7 infections with Trichophyton mentagrophytes (87.5%) and one with T. rubrum (12.5%). We observed one case with a dual infection. Only one sample from the inanimate environment was positive. This study showed a significant incidence of occult athlete's foot in swimmers. To control this endemic problem, adequate preventive measures must be taken.
Insights
Many swimmers have athlete's foot without symptoms. This study found a 15% infection rate in swimmers, with 36% of those cases being subclinical, highlighting the need for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Mycology
- Public Health
Background:
- Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a common fungal infection, often presenting with visible symptoms.
- Subclinical or asymptomatic infections can contribute to disease transmission and persistence within communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of subclinical athlete's foot infections among regular swimmers.
- To identify the fungal species responsible for infections in this population.
Main Methods:
- Toe-web and pool area samples were collected from 150 regular swimmers and analyzed using the carpet technique.
- Fungal isolates were identified using standard mycological methods.
- Epidemiological data were collected from participants.
Main Results:
- Fifteen percent (15%) of swimmers (22 out of 150) had positive fungal cultures.
- Of those infected, 36% (8 out of 22) had no visible lesions, indicating subclinical infections.
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the predominant species identified (87.5% of infections).
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of athlete's foot infections in swimmers are asymptomatic (occult).
- Swimmers represent a population at risk for subclinical tinea pedis, potentially aiding disease spread.
- Implementing effective preventive strategies is crucial for controlling this endemic issue.