Korean J Med Mycol.  2012 Sep;17(3):163-167.

Bacteriological Study of Paronychia in Military Personnel

• Lee SM
• Kim MS
• Rho NK
• Won CH
• Chang SE
• Lee MW
• Choi JH
• Moon KC

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Paronychia is a common infectious disease affecting fingernails and toenails. Although bacterial and fungal infections as well as mechanical trauma may play roles in the pathogenesis of this disease, there are few bacteriological studies about paronychia in military personnel.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the causative bacteria of paronychia in military personnel.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the microbiological results of 145 patients who visited a tertiary referral hospital for Korean soldiers from August 2004 to October 2006.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight different types of aerobic bacteria were identified, with the most common being Staphylococcus aureus (38.0%), Streptococcus pyogenes (7.2%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.4%). Staphylococcus aureus was identified mostly in finger and toe paronychial lesions and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered commonly from toe paronychial lesions. All cases of paronychia were controlled by the combination of antiseptic dressing, topical antibacterial ointment, oral antibiotics, and antimycotic agents.
CONCLUSION
The types of bacteria that most commonly caused paronychia in military personnel were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus, the commonly used oral antibiotics for paronychia, such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, clindamycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, are good choices in the treatment of paronychia in military personnel.

Keyword

Paronychia

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacteria
Bacteria, Aerobic
Bandages
Clindamycin
Communicable Diseases
Fingers
Humans
Military Personnel
Nails
Paronychia
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Retrospective Studies
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus pyogenes
Tertiary Care Centers
Toes
Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Clindamycin