If moisture is trapped between artificial and natural nails, which infection may form?

• A. Bacterial infection
• B. Fungal infection
• C. Viral infection
• D. Allergic reaction

Answer: (A)

Moist, enclosed spaces under a nail create an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. When moisture is trapped between an artificial nail and the natural nail, bacteria can invade the surrounding tissue at the nail folds, leading to a bacterial infection such as paronychia. Fungal infections can occur with moisture too, but they’re less likely to develop immediately in this specific trapped-gap scenario, whereas bacteria are more prone to quick growth in that moist environment. Viral infections require a virus and a different transmission route, and an allergic reaction isn’t an infection.