From the Guidelines
Dermatophyte infections can spread to other toes upon contact, and preventive measures such as wearing protective footwear and applying antifungal powders are essential to prevent reinfection. The British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of onychomycosis [@1@] emphasize the importance of preventing re-exposure to fungal elements, which can be found in hotel bedrooms, carpeting, gyms, and public bathing facilities. Key strategies for prevention include:
- Wearing protective footwear to avoid re-exposure
- Applying an absorbent powder and antifungal powders containing miconazole, clotrimazole, or tolnaftate in shoes and on the feet
- Wearing cotton, absorbent socks
- Keeping nails as short as possible
- Avoiding sharing toenail clippers with family members and friends
- Discarding old and mouldy footwear or treating them with naphthalene mothballs to eliminate fungal elements. As the guidelines suggest, onychomycosis has a high recurrence rate, and many patients have a long history of disease recurrence [@1@], which highlights the need for preventive measures to avoid spreading the infection to other toes.
From the Research
Dermatophyte Infection Transmission
- Dermatophyte infections, such as tinea pedis, can spread to other sites, including the nails, which can be a source of re-infection 1.
- The infection can be acquired directly from contact with infected humans or animals or indirectly from exposure to contaminated soil or fomites 2.
- Tinea pedis, an infection of the feet and toes, is one of the most common forms of dermatophytosis, and it can spread to other toes upon contact 3, 1.
Risk of Transmission
- The risk of transmission is higher in certain populations, such as diabetic patients, who have an increased predisposition to dermatophytic infections 4.
- Proper hygiene and foot care can help prevent the spread of dermatophyte infections 4.
- The use of oral antifungal agents, such as terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole, can be effective in treating dermatophyte infections, especially in severe cases or when topical treatment has failed 3, 1, 4.
Prevention and Treatment
- Topical antifungal treatments, such as terbinafine and naftifine, can be effective in treating tinea corporis and tinea cruris, and may also be used to prevent the spread of infection to other areas 5.
- Oral therapy is usually reserved for severe cases, such as tinea capitis, or when topical treatment has failed 2.
- Laboratory diagnosis of fungal infection prior to institution of therapy is recommended to ensure proper treatment 4.