Paronychia: a mixed infection. Microbiology and management

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Brook I. Journal of Hand Surgery. [JC:ire] 18(3):358-9, 1993 Jun. Cultures of paronychia of the fingers have grown aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Each was recovered individually in only about a quarter of the patients and a mixed aerobic/anaerobic flora was isolated in half of the patients. The predominant anaerobic organisms were Gram-positive anaerobic cocci, Bacteroides species and Fusobacterium species. The predominant aerobic organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, gamma-haemolytic streptococci, Eikenella corrodens, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, alpha-hemolytic streptococci, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Candida albicans was recovered in about 15% of the cases. The management of this infection is discussed.