Etiology of toe-web disease in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates: bacteriological and mycological studies

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Abstract
We examined and sampled 45 patients with toe-web intertrigo for bacteriological and mycological studies. Prominent isolated pathogens were the genus Candida [57.7%], genus Aspergillus [28.8%], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [26.7%] and coliforms [24.4%]. Dermatophytes scored 4.4% [Trichophyton rubrum]. There were 43 patents [95.5%] who presented with marked hyperkeratosis and maceration of the toe-webs involved. The tradition of the Emirati population of sitting cross-legged may, over time, induce in the toe-webs of overweight individuals a macerated pressure-reaction hyperkeratosis that is colonized by environmental germs. T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes are uncommon in the Al-Ain environment and this may explain the rarity of dermatophytes in toe-web intertrigo in our studyCitation
Lestringant, G.G., Saarinen, K.A., Frossard, P.M., Bener, A. & Ameen, A.M. (2001). Etiology of toe-web disease in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates: bacteriological and mycological studies. EMHJ - Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 7 (1-2), 38-45, 2001 https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/118986