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Are Antifungal Nail Polish Bottles a Reservoir for Contamination in Patients Treating Onychomycosis?
John Verrinder Veasey1,2, Cristine Zampieri Braga1, Gustavo de Sá Menezes Carvalho2
1Clinic of Dermatology, Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.
Introduction:
Onychomycosis presents significant therapeutic challenges, with high recurrence rates and the need for prolonged treatment adherence. While previous studies have explored the contamination risks of cosmetic nail polishes, little is known about the microbiological safety of antifungal nail polishes used in onychomycosis treatment.
Methods:
This study investigated potential contamination in antifungal nail polish bottles containing ciclopirox olamine 8% (CO) and amorolfine 5% (AM) used by patients diagnosed with onychomycosis confirmed by mycological exams. After treatment, applicators were analyzed using Sabouraud and Mycosel® culture media.
Results:
Of the 67 randomly selected nails treated, 100% showed positive direct mycological examination, and 49% had fungal growth in culture. However, none of the 67 applicators (49 CO and 18 AM) exhibited fungal growth.
Conclusion:
The study findings suggest that antifungal nail polishes do not act as contamination reservoirs, likely due to their inherent antifungal properties. Nonetheless, patients should be educated on proper hygiene to minimize cross-contamination risks.
Insights
Antifungal nail polishes for onychomycosis treatment did not show contamination in applicators, suggesting they are microbiologically safe. Proper patient hygiene is still recommended to prevent cross-contamination during fungal nail infection therapy.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Mycology
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Background:
- Onychomycosis treatment faces challenges like high recurrence and adherence issues.
- Cosmetic nail polish contamination is studied, but antifungal nail polish safety is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microbiological safety of antifungal nail polishes used for onychomycosis.
- To assess contamination risk in ciclopirox olamine (CO) and amorolfine (AM) nail polishes.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 67 antifungal nail polish applicators (49 CO, 18 AM) post-treatment.
- Used Sabouraud and Mycosel® culture media for fungal detection.
Main Results:
- 100% of treated nails showed positive direct mycological examination.
- 49% of treated nails had fungal growth in culture.
- No fungal growth was detected on any of the 67 applicators.
Conclusions:
- Antifungal nail polishes are unlikely to be contamination reservoirs due to inherent properties.
- Patient education on hygiene is crucial to minimize cross-contamination risks.
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