Chloronychia: Green Nail Syndrome Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Younger Patient

This case report discusses a rare occurrence of chloronychia, or green nail syndrome, in a young woman in her 20s with a recent <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>-induced ear infection. Green nail syndrome is characterized by green nail plate discoloration, proximal paronychia, and distal onycholysis. The patient's infection likely originated from her recent ear infections and resulted in green discoloration on her right index fingernail. Her medical history revealed a complex ear infection treated with ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, and morphine. However, after the resolution of her ear infection, the patient presented with a prominent green discoloration in her finger with mild inflammation. She was treated with ciprofloxacin topical solution and bleach soaks, which led to the resolution of the symptoms. <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, an opportunistic bacterium, uncommonly causes nail infections, though rarely documented in younger patients. In this case, it spread from the ear to the fingernail, emphasizing the bacterium's opportunistic nature.