title: Microorganisms of the toe web and their importance for erysipelas of the leg.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been a steady increase of the incidence of erysipelas in Germany in the recent past. Affected patients also often show defects in the cutaneous barrier caused by microorganisms. The aim of this non-interventional case-control study was to investigate a possible interrelationship between interdigital tinea pedis and bacterial toe web (interdigital space) infections and erysipelas of the leg, as well as a potential interaction among the microorganisms themselves.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient population contained 150 people equally distributed among three groups, one retrospective and one prospective erysipelas group (EG = rEG + pEG) plus one control group (KG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  51 % of the patients with erysipelas and 32 % of the control group suffered from interdigital tinea pedis. There was a significant association between interdigital tinea pedis and the recurrence rate of erysipelas, but not with erysipelas itself. Staphylococcus aureus (EG: 30.34 %; KG: 3.23 %) and non-pathogenic aerobic bacteria were significantly associated with erysipelas in each statistical analysis. Staphylococcus aureus showed a positive, the non-pathogenic aerobic germs (EG: 28,09 %; KG: 80,65 %) a negative association.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates an association between the microorganisms of the toe web and erysipelas of the leg. Erysipelas itself is influenced to a great extent by the bacterial flora, while its recurrence relates more to interdigital tinea pedis.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, General Hospital Augsburg.
authors: Dominik-Patrick
authors: DP
authors: Müller
authors: Reinhard
authors: R
authors: Hoffmann
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Welzel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D004886:Erysipelas / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006878:Hydroxides; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014008:Tinea Pedis / Q000382:microbiology; D014034:Toes / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D006878:Hydroxides; D017680:Potassium Compounds; C029943:potassium hydroxide