Paronychia is primarily associated with what type of infection?

Paronychia is primarily associated with a bacterial infection, specifically involving the skin around the nails. This condition usually occurs when there is a break in the skin from injury or excessive moisture, allowing bacteria to enter and cause an infection. The most commonly involved bacteria in paronychia are Staphylococcus aureus and sometimes Streptococcus, which can lead to symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, and pus formation around the nail area.

While fungal infections can also occur around the nails, and there are other skin conditions that might be related to allergies, the hallmark features and typical causative factors of paronychia are fundamentally linked to bacterial pathogens. Therefore, understanding that paronychia is mainly a bacterial infection helps in identifying the appropriate treatment and management strategies for this condition.