Chronic paronychia: microbiology and histopathology.

Abstract

The inconsistency and variety of organisms cultured from chronic paronychia has contributed much to the confusion surrounding this disease. Previous mycologic and bacterial cultures have been on the drainage or material taken from the nail fold.^1-4The purpose of this paper is to discuss findings on histologic, mycologic, and bacteriologic studies of chronic paronychia with an emphasis on the findings within the paronychial tissue. This study is based on biopsy studies of 5 patients with typical chronic paronychia. All patients had a positive Candida albicans culture from the nail fold before biopsy. The biopsies were done through the paronychial area and down to the nail plate. Littman's and bacterial cultures were taken from the dermis of the nail-fold side of the biopsy specimen. After cultures had been taken, a smear was made from the center of the biopsy material, and the specimen was submitted for histological studies with hematoxylin