What is the medical term for a toe infection?

Medical Terms for Toe Infections

The medical term for a toe infection depends on the specific type, location, and causative organism, with the most common terms being "pedal cellulitis" for bacterial infections and "tinea pedis" (athlete's foot) for fungal infections of the toe and foot area. 1

Classification of Toe Infections

Toe infections can be classified based on:

1. Causative Organism

• Bacterial infections:

  • Cellulitis - soft tissue infection of the toe
  • Paronychia - infection of the tissue around the nail
  • Pseudomonas infection - characterized by green or black nail discoloration 2, 3

• Fungal infections:

  • Tinea pedis (athlete's foot) - dermatophyte infection of the foot/toes
  • Onychomycosis - fungal infection of the toenail 2

• Mixed infections:

  • Interdigital toe web infections - often polymicrobial 4

2. Anatomical Location

• Interdigital - between toes (most common)
• Subungual - under the nail
• Periungual - around the nail
• Plantar - on the sole of the foot extending to toes

3. Severity (For Diabetic Foot Infections)

According to the IWGDF/IDSA classification system 1:

Severity	Clinical Features
Mild	Local inflammation, cellulitis <2cm around wound, superficial
Moderate	Cellulitis >2cm, deeper tissue involvement, no systemic signs
Severe	Infection with systemic inflammatory response syndrome

Specific Terminology for Common Toe Infections

Bacterial Infections

• Cellulitis - bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues
• Paronychia - infection of the tissue surrounding the nail
• Felon - infection of the pulp space of the distal phalanx
• Osteomyelitis - bone infection (often complicating other toe infections)
• "Fetid foot" - extensive necrosis or gangrene with malodorous discharge 1, 5

Fungal Infections

• Tinea pedis - dermatophyte infection with three main variants 6:
  • Interdigital type (most common)
  • Moccasin type (chronic)
  • Vesiculobullous type
• Onychomycosis - fungal infection of the nail plate 2

Causative Organisms

Bacterial Toe Infections

• Common pathogens:
  • Staphylococcus aureus (most common)
  • Beta-hemolytic streptococci
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa (especially in macerated toes)
  • Enterobacteriaceae (in chronic infections) 5, 7

Fungal Toe Infections

• Dermatophytes:
  • Trichophyton rubrum (most common)
  • Trichophyton mentagrophytes
  • Epidermophyton species
• Yeasts:
  • Candida parapsilosis
  • Candida guilliermondii 2, 6

Clinical Implications

Understanding the correct medical terminology for toe infections is crucial for:

• Proper diagnosis and documentation
• Selection of appropriate antimicrobial therapy
• Prevention of complications, especially in high-risk patients (diabetics)
• Communication among healthcare providers

In patients with diabetes, toe infections can be particularly serious and may be classified according to the IWGDF/IDSA system, which helps guide treatment decisions and predict outcomes 1.

Diagnostic Considerations

• Wood's lamp examination - useful for identifying Pseudomonas infections (fluorescent green) 3
• Culture and sensitivity - tissue specimens from wound base are preferred over swabs 7
• Probe-to-bone test - useful for diagnosing underlying osteomyelitis in diabetic patients 1

Remember that proper identification and terminology of toe infections is essential for appropriate treatment selection and prevention of serious complications, particularly in patients with diabetes or immunosuppression.