Dermatophytosis in Industry

A study of dermatophytosis in industry was made with the object of obtaining some data in reference to: (1) the incidence of dermatophytosis in industry; (2) the possible spread of dermatophytosis in industrial shower rooms and locker rooms; (3) whether the presence of fungous infection predisposes to the development of industrial dermatitis; (4) the differential diagnosis between dermatophytids and industrial dermatitis of the hands. The investigations were carried out in industrial plants in the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Indiana and Louisiana. A total of 2,123 workers were examined in two munitions plants, three plants processing steel and other metal parts and one plant making glass products.¹Two of the plants were revisited at different seasons. As the studies progressed it was found that cultures for pathogenic fungi were desirable for comparison with clinical diagnoses. Therefore, cultures were made from the last 819 workers