Fungal infections occurring under bandages in leg ulcer patients

Abstract

In 49 consecutive leg ulcer patients fungal cultures were taken from 4 different locations: the ulcer; the ulcer edge; 10 cm below the knee; and the toe-web. The patients had been treated with ACO Medicated Stockings in half of the cases, and the others were treated with several different bandages. Sera were analysed for antibodies against Candida albicans with the indirect immunofluorescence technique (IIF). The mean antibody titer was 434 in the patients with C. albicans in their ulcers, 123 in control patients with negative cultures in their ulcers and 258 in control patients with basalioma or actinic keratoses. Seven patients were culture positive for C. albicans, two patients had C. parapsilosis and one had growth of Trichophyton rubrum in their ulcers. Nine out of 10 patients with positive cultures had been treated with ACO Medicated Stockings (p less than 0.05). Covering a large area of the leg with an ointment impregnated stocking without preservatives seems to increase the risk for fungal infections.