[Treatment of interdigital tinea pedis using a solution of 1:100 bifonazole (Bay h 4502)]

An open mycologically controlled trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy, acceptability and tolerance of bifonazole 1% solution for the treatment of patients with Tinea pedis interdigitalis. The solution of bifonazole was applied once daily for three consecutive weeks. Only patients with positive direct microscopy of scrapings and positive culture (dermatophytes) were included in the trial. Assessments were performed one week after start of therapy, and three days, two weeks and six weeks after therapy end. Twenty-three patients were evaluated (17 males and six females), the average age was 33.6 years (seventeen-sixty-five years) years. In 1 case T. rubrum var. granulare was the infecting organism, in 11 cases T. rubrum and finally 11 cases were due to T., mentagrophytes var interdigitale. Twenty patients were clinically and mycologically cured at the end of treatment and there were no relapses two weeks and six weeks later. One patient (T. rubrum) was cured clinically, but had positive direct microscopy and negative cultures after treatment. This finding persisted two and six weeks after therapy end, but there was no clinical relapse. Two patients (T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale y T. rubrum var. granulare) did not respond to therapy. One patient had mild irritation (burning and reddening) but was able to finish treatment. All the patients found the medication acceptable and easy to apply.