Pseudomonas nail infection - Nail and Distal Digit
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis

- Green discoloration of the nail plate
- Paronychia
- Distolateral onycholysis
The main complaint of patients is the green discoloration of the nails. Patients must avoid excessive exposure to moist environments, or they will have a high rate of recolonization even after treatment.
Green nails are more common in hairdressers, dishwashers, food handlers, and health care workers.
Green nail syndrome is rare in children but can be seen in those who are immunosuppressed.
Codes
ICD10CM:A49.8 – Other bacterial infections of unspecified site
SNOMEDCT:
402932005 – Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of nail
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Subungual hematoma
- Onychomycosis
- Longitudinal melanonychia
- Subungual melanoma
- Chemical exposure to solutions containing pyocyanin or isocyanate
- Yellow nail syndrome
- Paronychia
- Fusarium infection
- Proteus mirabilis infection
- Aspergillus infection
- Favipiravir-induced greenish fluorescence of nails
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Reviewed:03/05/2017
Last Updated:02/14/2022
Last Updated:02/14/2022