Comments
Workers who do wet work (cannery workers, bartenders, and food handlers) or who wear occlusive gloves for prolonged periods (dental, healthcare, and semiconductor clean room workers) are at increased risk for this skin infection. Patients with AIDS, neutropenia, and diabetes have a higher risk of infection because of impaired immunity. [CCDM, p. 89-91; Marks, p. 281; LaDou, p. 340] "The nail fold is painful and red as in acute paronychia, but there is almost never pus accumulation." [Merck Manual, p. 735]
For updated text and symptoms of infectious diseases, see iddx.com.
Diagnostic
Gram stain, KOH prep, and culture; [PPID, p. 2884]