The Isolation of Dermatophytes from the Floors of Communal Bathing Places

Studies in the Epidemiology of Tinea Pedis: II. Dermatophytes on the Floors of Swimming-Baths

“…The sterile velvet-covered sampling-pads were used as described by Gentles (1956), except that the basic culture medium on to which they were stamped was glucose (4%)-peptone (1%) agar, to which the antibiotics were added. Where floors were dry they were damped with fresh water before sampling.…”

“…However, Gentles (1956) has developed a direct sampling technique, which he used with considerable success on the floors of pithead baths, and this method has been adopted for the examination of three swimming-baths in Bristol.…”

The Transmission of Tinea Cruris.

“…Hygienic habits were studied in the community and dermatophytes were sought on clothes and other objects touching the groins, and also from some shoes and floors. Clothes were pressed directly on to the medium in plates ; with other objects a sterile swab was used, whilst floors were studied by Gentles' technique (Gentles, 1956).…”

Transition of Isolation Ratios of Dermatophytes from House Dust of Patients with Tinea

“…Many authors have investigated the main routes of mass infection of tinea in communalliving areas and public places. Dermatophytes have been isolated from bath mats (3,4), footwear (4,5), floors at poolside and dressing rooms (6) and communal bathing places (7,8). Kagawa (9) and Takizawa (10) reported that they isolated the etiologic dermatophytes, EPidermophyton floccosum, from dust in mass infections of tinea cruris and emphasized the significance of house dust as a source of the infection.…”