Background: Limited studies on the prevalence and risk factors for superficial mycoses are available. Objective: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for superficial mycoses (dermatophytes and Candida spp.) in a sample of young Italian people resident at a military school. Methods: A total of 1,024 young cadets from the Italian Navy Petty Officers School in Taranto, including 975 (95.21%) males and 49 (4.79%) females, mean age 22.5 ± 3.0 years (range 18–30), were consecutively examined by the same observer. A complete dermatological examination was performed on all the subjects, and skin scrapings for microscopy and fungal culture were obtained from suspected lesions. All the subjects completed a questionnaire providing information on sports practice, swimming-pool attendance, marching, wearing shower sandals, frequent use of ‘gummed’ shoes, history of severe traumas to the nails, presence of hyperhidrosis and history of superficial mycoses. The affected subjects were also asked if they were aware of their condition. Data were analysed by the Statistical Analysis System, version 8.0. The Fisher exact test and odds ratios were calculated. Results: A total of 33 subjects (3.2%) were found to suffer from a mycologically confirmed fungal infection (3% by dermatophytes and 0.2% by Candida albicans): tinea pedis/Candida intertrigo of the feet was suspected in 126 (12.1%) subjects and confirmed in 30 (2.9%), including 28 cases of tinea pedis and 2 cases of Candida intertrigo; tinea cruris/Candida intertrigo of the groin was suspected in 28 (2.7%) subjects, but confirmed in only 1 case (0.1%); onychomycosis was suspected in 64 (6.1%) subjects and confirmed in 2 cases (0.2%). The organism most frequently responsible in tinea pedis was Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (82.1%). The same species (50%) and T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (50%) were associated with tinea unguium, Epidermophyton floccosum was the only species detected in tinea cruris. Non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi (Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp. and Paecilomyces spp.), not considered pathogenic, were isolated in 48 samples. None of the risk factors analysed were significantly associated with fungal infection. Only 2 subjects out of the 33 people affected were aware of their condition. They both had tinea pedis. Conclusion: The prevalence of mycoses in sailors living in an Italian military school was lower than rates detected in other military populations. This may be due to the cadets’ lifestyle and environmental conditions. The most frequent infection was tinea pedis, mainly caused by T. interdigitale. None of the investigated risk factors were significantly associated with the disease, and most of the affected individuals were not aware of their condition.

Background: The atopy patch test (APT), namely the patch test with aeroallergens, is regarded as specific for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), but small numbers of positive APT were reported in the past also in atopic subjects without dermatitis and in healthy persons. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the response to the APT with house dust mites (HDM) in subjects nonaffected by AD and to compare the outcomes observed in these cases with those pointed out in AD patients, evaluating also the differences between two allergen extracts manufactured at different purifications and concentrations. Methods: Forty-seven atopic subjects without eczema (AWE), 33 nonatopic (NA) subjects and 77 adult AD patients were patch tested with an extract of purified bodies of HDM at 20% and with another extract of whole bodies of HDM at 30%, the latter corresponding to 300 µg/g of Der p 1. The reproducibility of APT was also tested in 8 AD patients, in 37 AWE subjects and in 19 NA subjects. Results: Positive responses with extract at 20% were observed in 29 (37.7%) AD, in 5 (10.6%) AWE and in 4 (12.1%) NA subjects. The APT with HDM at 30% was positive in 32 (41.6%) AD, 9 (19.1%) AWE and 4 (12.1%) NA persons. The rates of positivity and the intensity scores of responses were significantly different between AD and non-AD subjects (p < 0.01). The reproducibility of the APT in the three groups was satisfactory. Conclusion: These observations lead to conclude that the APT with HDM is positive also in non-AD subjects but it is probably more specific for AD.

The prevalence of pityriasis versicolor in this sample of young Italian sailors was not high, in agreement with the available surveys performed in the general population in temperate climates. Many affected subjects were not aware of their condition. The only important factor associated with pityriasis versicolor was a previous history of pityriasis versicolor. This observation could confirm the hypothesis that constitutional factors, e.g. seborrhoea and chemical constitution of sebum, may play a crucial role in temperate climates, leading to relapsing forms of this superficial mycosis.

Background: It is difficult to carry out studies on the prevalence of tinea pedis in the community. Some studies are performed on selected groups of subjects, exposed to the same risk factors, i.e. schoolchildren, public bathers, athletes and military men. Objective: The aim of this work was to detect in a sample of military men the prevalence of tinea pedis and the awareness of their condition, and to relate the infection to risk factors of the group as well. Methods: 410 male Italian navy cadets in an Italian navy petty officers school were clinically examined and mycological cultures were performed, employing the skin scrapings obtained from suspected lesions. Results: Dermatophytes were isolated from toe clefts in 10 subjects, giving a point prevalence of 2.4% (95% confidence interval 1.3–4.4%). The isolated dermatophytes were Trichophyton mentagrophytes (70%), Trichophyton rubrum (20%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (10%). None of the subjects was aware of his disease. No significant association was observed between tinea pedis and risk factors (i.e. hyperhidrosis and habits). Conclusion: The prevalence in our sample was lower than that observed in previous studies on military men. That can be attributed to the general amelioration of hygienic conditions and strengthening of preventive habits. Therefore the prevalence of tinea pedis in Italian sailors seems to be reduced but still rather relevant. That is important because these subjects are a reservoir of ringworm infection.

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