TINEA-PEDIS OUTBREAK IN SWIMMING POOLS IN JAPAN

This study was conducted to show a higher prevalence of interdigital t inea pedis in athletes by comparing athletes and non-athletes, and to examine swimming pools as a route of infection. The subjects were 282 athletes, 137 non-athletes, and 140 students enrolled in a swimming cl ass at the University of Tsukuba. This study included the taking of co tton-swab samples from the interdigital skin surfaces of both feet and cultures, microscopical examinations of scales collected from subject s with lesions, and questionnaires. There was a significant difference between athletes and non-athletes in the prevalence of the relevant p athogens, and a higher risk of infection was shown in athletes. The st udy also found that 63.6% of the swimming class students were carriers , and that 85.0% of their dermatophytes were Trichophyton mentagrophyt es. In addition, dermatophytes were also isolated from the floors of t he swimming pool and the public baths. The results of these controlled studies suggested that there was a significant risk of dermatophytosi s in both athletes and non-athletes using the swimming pool.