greenies (pseudomonas bacteria)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a rod-shaped bacteria that produces a green pigment, hence the term “greenies.” These bacteria tend to thrive in moist environments and this is why we sometimes see pseudomonas infections associated with artificial nails.

Artificial nails can create gaps in the space between the natural nail plate and the artificial enhancement where moisture can build up and bacteria can flourish.

Natural nails that are separated from the underlying nail bed (onycholysis) can also develop a pseudomonas infection when the bacteria takes residence in the warm, moist space between the natural nail plate and the nail bed.

The infections are hard to treat because the bacteria can resist many types of antibiotics, the medicines normally used to kill bacteria.