Chronic dermatomycoses of the foot as risk factors for acute bacterial cellulitis of the leg: A case-control study

Objective: To assess the role of foot dermatomycosis ( tinea pedis
and onychomycosis) and other candidate risk factors in the
development of acute bacterial cellulitis of the leg. Methods: A
case-control study, including 243 patients ( cases) with acute
bacterial cellulitis of the leg and 467 controls, 2 per case,
individually matched for gender, age (+/-5 years), hospital and
admission date (+/-2 months). Results: Overall, mycology-proven
foot dermatomycosis was a significant risk factor for acute
bacterial cellulitis (odds ratio, OR: 2.4; p < 0.001), as were
tinea pedis interdigitalis (OR: 3.2; p < 0.001), tinea pedis
plantaris (OR: 1.7; p = 0.005) and onychomycosis (OR: 2.2; p <
0.001) individually. Other risk factors included: disruption of the
cutaneous barrier, history of bacterial cellulitis, chronic venous
insufficiency and leg oedema. Conclusions: Tinea pedis and
onychomycosis were found to be significant risk factors for acute
bacterial cellulitis of the leg that are readily amenable to
treatment with effective pharmacological therapy. Copyright (C)
2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.