title: Chloronychia: green nail syndrome caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in elderly persons.
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.
authors.affiliation: Apollonia University, Iasi, Romania ; Nicolina Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, Iasi, Romania ; "P.Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiriac
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, 6th Military Support Unit, Ustka, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brzezinski
authors.affiliation: Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foia
authors.affiliation: Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Iosif
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marincu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000382:microbiology*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin
keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; chloronychia; elderly; green nail syndrome