RINGWORM OF THE FEET: SHOES AND SLIPPERS AS A SOURCE OF REINFECTION

Abstract

In presenting this completed study of shoes and slippers as a source of infection or reinfection in cases of ringworm of the feet, we have added a supplementary study of a small series of cases (25) in which we were interested in learning whether the organisms found in the shoes and on the skin were identical. Analysis of this series will follow the discussion of the main study. When one considers the widespread prevalence of infections of the feet due to fungi that are considered to be pathogenic in man, it is only natural to expect to find these fungi in articles of clothing in intimate contact with the affected areas. It is also believed that the distribution of these organisms is as universal in the mycologic as in the bacterial field. Consequently the human foot would be in frequent contact with fungi, both pathogenic and nonpathogenic, which could probably