Toe Web Infections, the Microbiome, and Toe Web Psoriasis: A Review.

OBJECTIVE: To present the toe web space as an anatomically, physiologically, and pathologically unique part of the human body; characterize toe web infections and discuss why they occur; and highlight toe web psoriasis as an uncommon condition that providers should consider if toe web intertrigo does not respond to treatment. DATA SOURCE: This review encompassed many years of clinical observation and photographs; medical textbooks; and a literature search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar. STUDY SELECTION: Primary research keywords included intertrigo, toe web intertrigo, toe web infection, tinea pedis, microbiome, skin microbiome, toe web microbiome, ecology, psoriasis, psoriasis microbiome, intertriginous psoriasis, and Wood's lamp. More than 190 journal articles met the search criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: The authors sought data relating to what makes for a healthy toe web space and what makes for disease. They extracted and collated relevant information to compare and contrast among sources. DATA SYNTHESIS: After understanding the normal toe web space and the microorganisms that normally reside there, the authors investigated why infections occur, how they should be treated, what complications may result, and what other diseases occur in the toe web area. CONCLUSIONS: This review of toe web infection illustrates the effect of the microbiome and reports a rare form of psoriasis that is usually misdiagnosed as athlete's foot. The toe web space is a unique part of the human body that can be affected by a variety of both common and unusual conditions.

Poor compliance with topical corticosteroids for atopic dermatitis despite severe disease.

Electronic monitoring of adherence provides opportunities for new insights into the relationship between adherence and treatment outcomes. We report a patient who was non-adherent to treatment despite a high degree of atopic dermatitis severity. Such patients may be better managed by measures that increase adherence rather than use of more potent, potentially toxic medications.

Adherence to clocortolone pivalate cream 0.1% in a pediatric population with atopic dermatitis.

Topical corticosteroids are first-line treatments for atopic dermatitis (AD) and their efficacy is well-established in randomized controlled clinical trials. When corticosteroids fail in clinical practice, it often is attributed to nonresponse. However, poor adherence also should be considered. With the advent of electronic monitoring systems, objective data on adherence can be obtained. The purpose of this study was to determine both self-reported and actual adherence to clocortolone pivalate cream 0.1% in the treatment of AD in a pediatric population. Six participants completed the 4-week study. Self-reported adherence was significantly higher than objectively measured adherence (P = .01). In general, adherence was best during the first week of treatment and tapered off thereafter. Clocortolone pivalate cream 0.1% was generally effective, with rapid improvement over the first week of treatment, even when adherence was limited. This study was limited by the small sample size and the failure of 2 participants to complete the study. Patients overestimate their adherence behavior. While some patients are adherent to treatment, others rapidly discontinue their use of medication over time. Midpotency topical corticosteroids such as clocortolone pivalate cream 0.1% are highly effective treatments for AD. Poor adherence should be considered when AD is not responding to topical corticosteroid treatment.

Open label trial of alefacept in palmoplantar pustular psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Palmoplantar pustular psoriasis (PPP) is difficult to treat. We assessed the effectiveness of alefacept in PPP and the safety of a 30 mg/week dose. METHODS: Fifteen individuals with PPP were started on 15 mg/week intramuscularly (IM) alefacept. Efficacy was measured by the PPP severity instrument (PSI). Treatment was continued for 16 weeks, and the alefacept dose was increased to 30 mg/week IM at week 9 if the PSI did not decrease by at least 25%. Other outcomes included physician's global assessment (PGA), reported adverse events and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts. Clinical response was observed for 12 weeks after the last injection. RESULTS: The severity of PPP improved in both the PSI and the PGA (p<0.0001 and p = 0.0009, respectively). Much of the improvement occurred after 10 weeks of therapy. Nail severity scores improved (p = 0.0003). CD4+ counts decreased, but all remained >250 cells/mm3. There were no severe adverse effects or discontinuations due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Alefacept in doses up to 30 mg/week was well tolerated in patients with PPP and appeared to have some efficacy. The use of concomitant therapy, the lack of a comparator, and the small sample size are limitations of the study.

Stealth monitoring of adherence to topical medication: adherence is very poor in children with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis is a common problem for which topical agents are the primary treatment. When topical medications fail, further therapy may include systemic agents with the potential for greater toxicity. Adherence to topical treatment of atopic dermatitis has not been well characterized. Poor adherence to topical medication could account for failure of topical therapy. PURPOSE: To determine adherence to topical treatment in patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Thirty-seven children were given 0.1% triamcinolone ointment and were counseled to use it twice daily. They were told to return in 4 weeks, at which time they were told to continue treatment for another 4 weeks. Electronic monitors were used to measure adherence over the entire 8 week study. Patients were not informed of the compliance monitoring until the end of the study. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients completed 8 weeks of treatment. Mean adherence from the baseline to the end of the study was 32%. Adherence was higher on or near office visit days and subsequently decreased rapidly. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the large number of subjects who failed to return for follow-up appointments or withdrew from the study. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to topical medications is very poor in a clinic population of children with atopic dermatitis. Office visits are one means to increase adherence. If adherence to topical treatment can be improved, exposure to more costly and potentially toxic systemic agents may be avoidable.

Adapting electronic adherence monitors to standard packages of topical medications.

Adherence to topical medications is poorly characterized. Electronic monitors can provide objective adherence data, but these monitors are not designed to work with tubes of medications. We sought to adapt standard electronic monitors to commonly used medication tubes. An adapter was created to fit over standard medication tubes. Screw threads on the adapter were designed to fit standard electronic monitors. Adapters and monitors were tested with tubes of gel, ointment, and cream over an 8-week test period during which the adapters were opened and closed twice daily. The adapters were easily mated to both plastic and aluminum topical medication tubes. The bond between the adapter and the tube was maintained throughout the study. Electronic monitors were 100% accurate at identifying medication events over the study period. We conclude that adapting existing electronic monitors to medication tubes should facilitate a much better understanding of adherence to topical treatment.

Frequency and cost of actinic keratosis treatment.

BACKGROUND: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common lesion with its highest incidence in the aged population. Although treatment strategies for AK have continued to develop, the cost of such treatments has not been recently investigated. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to determine the frequency of visits for AK, the methods used to treat AK, and the cost of the treatments used annually. METHODS: Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were used to determine the frequency of office visits for AK and the frequency of destructive procedures and topical treatment of AK. Medicare reimbursement rates were used to estimate the cost of the procedures performed. Costs of medications were based on published wholesale costs. RESULTS: There are an estimated 5.2 million AK visits annually, 60% of which are made by the Medicare population. A total of Dollars 920 million was spent on the treatment of AK annually, 6% being spent on topical therapy, 43% on office visits, and 51% on destructive procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Even though new topical therapies are evolving for the treatment of AK, destructive procedures remain the standard of care when considering frequency of use, efficacy, and cost control.