EXAMINATION OF NAILS FOR FUNGI
- 1 March 1945
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of Dermatology
- Vol. 51 (3) , 209
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.1945.01510210051014
Abstract
The usual method of examining nails for fungi is a rather tedious and not too successful procedure. That applies to both microscopic and cultural examinations. It takes a long time for a" hard piece of nail to dissolve sufficiently in the potassium hydroxide fluid. Furthermore, the part of the nail that is removed with the scissors may not be the best suited for the finding of fungi. It is also not particularly suitable for cultures, because it is usually heavily secondarily infected, especially with molds. The use of an electric drill, such as has been recommended by Kile and Welsh1 for the treatment of trichophytosis, is also helpful in establishing the diagnosis microscopically or by culture. The outer and superficial part of the nail is first drilled away. When the cleaner, somewhat brittle part of the nail is reached, the nail dust is collected on aThis publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: