[The role of clothing in the transmission of pathogenic fungi ].

Laboratory studies were made to examine the possibility of transmission of pathogenic fungi through textiles. 1. Dermatophytes were proven to be present in clothing and leather articles worn over areas infected by fungi. In patients known to be infected with Pityriasis versicolor, contaminated scales were obtained from their textiles, the fungi could be demonstrated. 2. Artificially infected textiles were found to harbor dermatophytes and pathogenic yeasts for a number of weeks without limiting the survival capacity of the fungi. 3. At low temperatures, fungi were not affected by various detergents. Under conditions simulating machine washings (30 minutes exposure time) at a temperature of 60 degrees C any washing agent was sufficient to cause irreversible damage. At higher temperatures the time for killing the fungi was diminished. These results were confirmed by experiments with contaminated material from patients (scales, hairs, nail particles).