The Effect of Sock Type on Fungal Growth in FeetJeff Sweat

Background Information Does sock type have an effect on fungal

growth in feet? Well fitting socks are most important Material does not matter(Woolley, 2012) Effects people around the world Diabetic socks are cotton socks stitched

differently(Carol,2011

Methodology Choose

Participants to be tested

Prepare Agar for testing

Give the participants the socks to be worn

Let the participants wear

the socks for 5 hours

Take up all the socks and place

them into seperate bags

Label all of the Bags

Dip a cotton swab into distilled

water

Swab the inside heel of the sock

Streak the plate with the cotton

swab

Repeat twice for each sock

Incupate at 37 degrees for 4

days

Count all colonies on the plates

Hypothesis There will be a difference in the amount of fungal

growth inhibited by socks.

Experimental Design

The Effect of Sock Type on Amount of Fungal Growth in Feet

IV: Sock Type    

Levels of the IV: Cotton Socks Diabetic Socks

Repeated Trials 50 50

Constants: Time the socks are worn, cell culturing techniques, Sock types wornControl: Socks that have not been wornTimeline: The socks will be swabbed and cultured the day they are collected.

Quantatative ResultsIV Levels

Control Cotton Socks Diabetic Socks

Mean 0 199.4 95.2

Range 0 541 325

Min 0 21 1

Max 0 562 326

STDV 0 85.4 82.5

Trials 2 50 50

Results

Control Cotton Socks Diabetic Socks0

50

100

150

200

250

Sock Type

Colo

nie

s C

ounte

d

P value of <0.01F value of 77.11Statistically Significant Decrease in Bacteria Growth with Diabetic Socks

Pictures

Conclusion Diabetic socks promoted the least

fungal growth on feet when worn for five hours.

Now we know that people should wear diabetic socks when performing athletic activities.

Next Step The immediate next step for future

research would be experimentation on nylon socks verses diabetic socks.

Further experimentation and testing with more trials for the control and the experiment as a whole would be the long term goal of the experiment.

Literature Cited American society for microbiology; fungi the cause of many outbreaks of disease but mostly

ignored. (2008). NewsRx Health & Science, , 91. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/212045129?accountid=50132

Antimicrobial behaviour of socks from bamboo fibres.(2009, 02). Retrieved from http://www.indiantextilejournal.com/articles/FAdetails.asp?id=1926

Carol, F. (2011). Sockwearreccommendations for people with diabetes. Retrieved from spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/14/2/59.full

Crawford, F., Hart, R., Bell-Syer, S., Torgerson, D. J., & al, e. (2001).Athlete's foot and fungally infected toenails.British Medical Journal, 322(7281), 288-9. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204024731?accountid=50132

de Almeida, ,M.J., W, B. Y., Habberman, D., Medeiros, E. M., & al, e. (2004). Extrinsic compression of popliteal artery in asymptomatic athlete and non-athlete individuals: A comparative study using duplex scan (color duplex sonography).International Angiology, 23(3), 218-29. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/229814378?accountid=50132

Woolley, E. (1/5/12) What Are Diabetic Socks and Do I Need Them? About.com Retrieved from http://diabetes.about.com/od/whatisdiabetes/f/What-Are-Diabetic-Socks-And-Do-I-Need-Them.htm

(2012). The Test. Lab Tests Online. Retrieved from http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/808184/all-about-athletes-foot

Acknowledgments I would like to thank Mrs. Baskett, Ms.

Jackson, and Mr. Hendrix for their help and support during this rigorous task.

They have made many suggestions that have led to adjustments to my project that have helped it tremendously.

Student Accomplishments Varsity Baseball as a Freshman and

Sophomore Set New Personal Best Times in the 100

yard Backstroke and 50 yard Freestyle on the Varsity Swim Team

Peer Mentoring Program

The Effect of Sock Type on Fungal Growth in FeetJeff Sweat