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Random samples of the weekly entry of bathers to a swimming pool were examined for tinea pedis and verruca before and at intervals after the supply of individual sachets of foot powder to all bathers.Over three and a half years the overall incidence of tinea pedis decreased from 8.5% to 2.1%, and in adult males it decreased from 21.5% to 6.9%. The incidence of infection with Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale decreased from 5.3% to 0.5%, and the incidence of infection with T. rubrum (1.2%-1.1%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (0.9%-0.5%) did not change significantly. The incidence of verruca decreased from 4.8% to 1.2%. Issuing foot powder clearly minimizes the spread of infection and is recommended for general use.

A 10% random sample of all bathers at a public swimming bath were examined for tinea pedis and verruca.The overall incidence of tinea pedis was 8.5% and of verruca 4.8%. The incidence of tinea pedis in 205 male adults was 21.5%, in 288 boys 6.3%, in 60 adult females 3.3%, and in 220 girls 0.9%. The incidence of verruca in juveniles ranged from 4.2% in boys to 10.5% in girls.It was clear that both infections spread within the baths, and since a relatively small proportion of users admitted to taking precautions to avoid contracting or developing infections it seems advisable that more publicity about recommendations on foot care should be provided.

The feet of 259 new patients at a chiropody clinic were examined for tinea pedis, onychomycosis, and erythrasma: 23% of men and 4% of women were infected by dermatophytes, and the nails of seven males were infected by non-dermatophytes. Of 200 patients examined under Wood's light 37% showed the coral-red fluorescence of erythrasma.Of the 259 patients, 9.7% were infected by Trichophyton interdigitale, 2.7% by T. rubrum, and 1.5% by Epidermophyton floccosum. Reasons are given, based on the method of selection of the patients, for supposing that T. interdigitale is still the dominant cause of tinea pedis in the population at large, despite figures from dermatological clinics suggesting the dominance of T. rubrum. The high incidence of infection in males compared with females corresponds with similar findings in school-children.