DERMATOPHYTES ON THE FEET OF HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS - FREQUENCY, SPECIES DISTRIBUTION, LOCALIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY

Skin scrapings from the toe clefts, soles and nail plates of 138 HIV-i nfected patients at various stages were examined for the presence of d ermatophytes using both microscopy and culture. Dermatophytes, in part icular Trichophyton rubrum, could be grown in 58 cases (42%). Although cultures were more often positive in late stages of disease, there wa s no close correlation with the clinical stage of the T4/T8 ratio. Sus ceptibility to itraconazole, but not to other antimycotics, was correl ated with the immune status (P<0.05). Pedal dermatophyte infection doe s not seem to be a major problem in HIV infection.