PARONYCHIA DRAINAGE

Course overview

ACUTE PARONYCHIA IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON INFECTIONS OF THE HAND. IT IS USUALLY CAUSED BY A BREAKDOWN OF THE SEAL BETWEEN THE NAIL PLATE AND THE NAIL FOLD WITH INFECTION RESULTING FROM SUBSEQUENT INOCULATION OF BACTERIAL OR FUNGAL PATHOGENS. PARONYCHIA DRAINAGE IS RECOMMENDED WHEN AN ABSCESS FORMS WITHIN THE NAIL FOLDS OR BENEATH THE NAIL PLATE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND TECHNICAL APPROACH INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT AND DRAINAGE OF PARONYCHIA WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE.