Preventive Effects of Various Socks against Adhesion of Dermatophytes to Healthy Feet

We studied the preventive effects of socks against dermatophyte infection. Wearing various socks (cotton socks, nylon stockings, wool socks and "tabi"), a healthy volunteer walked on a bath mat on which a patient with tinea pedis had stepped earlier. The volunteer pressed her right foot with socks onto large agar medium (Foot-press method), then, took off the socks and performed the Foot-press method again. The number of colonies of isolated dermatophytes on the medium was counted. The number of isolated colonies from the sole after taking off the nylon stockings was larger than that from the foot wearing the stockings. Dermatophytes were also isolated from the sole after taking off cotton socks. In contrast, few dermatophytes were isolated from the sole after taking off wool socks or "tabi". On microscopic observation, fibers of the nylon stockings and cotton socks were seen to be loose enough for dermatophytes to pass through. In contrast with those socks, fibers of wool socks and "tabi" were tight or fluffy. In conclusion, the nylon stockings and cotton socks are unsatisfactory in preventing the adhesion of dermatophytes.