Material collection for the mycologic diagnosis of nail diseases
Zaumseil, R.P.
Dermatologische Monatschrift 160(2): 112-117
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0011-9083 PMID: 4277872 Document Number: 81960
The nail is cleansed with alcohol and the superficial layer ground off with a dental drill and discarded. The patient's finger or toe is then held over a funnel attached to a flask containing a culture tube while the middle and deeper layers of the nail are milled. A vacuum extractor sucks air out of the top of the flask via an aspirator containing blotting-paper soaked in disinfectant. The method safeguards against accidental cross-infection and, in comparisons in 1970-71 involving 1506 samples, yielded a higher percentage of positive cultures. It was particularly effective in detecting slight infections. Isolates comprised 117 yeasts, 444 Trichophyton rubrum, 64 T. mentagrophytes, 2 T. terrestre.