title: Low-voltage direct current as a fungicidal agent for treating onychomycosis.
abstract: Onychomycosis, most commonly caused by two species of dermatophyte fungi--Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes--is primarily treated with regimens of topical and systemic antifungal medications. This study was undertaken to evaluate in vitro the efficacy of low-voltage direct current as an antifungal agent for treating onychomycosis. Agar plate cultures of T rubrum and T mentagrophytes were subjected to low-voltage direct current electrostimulation, and antifungal effects were observed as zones in the agar around the electrodes lacking fungal growth. Zones devoid of fungal growth were observed for T rubrum and T mentagrophytes around anodes and cathodes in a dose-dependent manner in the current range of 500 microA to 3 mA. Low-voltage direct current electrostimulation has great clinical potential for the treatment of onychomycosis and perhaps other superficial maladies of fungal etiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Daemen College, 4380 Main St, Amherst, NY 14226, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kalinowski
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Edsberg
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hewson
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Brogan
mesh_terms: D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014008:Tinea Pedis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000254:growth & development*