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. 2015 Jan 14:10:265-7.
doi: 10.2147/CIA.S75525. eCollection 2015.

Chloronychia: green nail syndrome caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in elderly persons

Anca Chiriac  1 , Piotr Brzezinski  2 , Liliana Foia  3 , Iosif Marincu  4
Affiliations

Chloronychia: green nail syndrome caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in elderly persons

Anca Chiriac et al. Clin Interv Aging. .

Abstract

Green nails, also known as chloronychia or green nail syndrome, are characterized by green discoloration of the nail plate (greenish-yellow, greenish-brown, greenish-black), proximal chronic non-tender paronychia, and distolateral onycholysis. The cause is Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of the nail plate in persons whose hands are constantly exposed to water, soaps, and detergents or are subject to mechanical trauma, especially in the elderly. Green or black coloration of the nails should raise suspicion for Pseudomonas infection and be treated with an oral quinolone (ciprofloxacin), particularly in aged patients. We present three cases of green nails in elderly persons.

Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; chloronychia; elderly; green nail syndrome.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Green coloration of the toe nail.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Onycholysis and secondary Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of the finger nail in a 68-year-old man.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Onychomycosis, onychogryphosis, and choloronychia in a 56-year-old man. Note: Colonies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown on agar media.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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