Finger infection; runaround abscess; fingernail infection; runaround infection

Soft-tissue infection in the area around fingernail

Breakdown of protective barrier between nail plate and nail fold; entry of organisms into nail crevice allow bacterial or fungal colonization; acute variant: Staphylococcus aureus most common organism; chronic variant: Candida albicans most common pathogen; other causes: bacterial, mycobacterial, or viral infection; metastatic cancer; subungual melanoma; squamous cell carcinoma

Acute variant: history of minor trauma or nail manipulation; pain, tenderness, and swelling in lateral nail fold; erythematous, edematous distal finger, sometimes with purulent exudate, most prominent in proximal and lateral nail fold area, with extension into eponychium; purulence of the nail bed; onycholysis

Chronic variant: inflammation, pain, and swelling occur episodically, often after exposure to moist environment;...