A case of melanonychia due to Candida albicans.

Candida species rarely cause black pigmentation of infected nails and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. We describe a 53-year-old white man who had diffuse melanonychia of the fourth right fingernail due to C. albicans. A progressive dark pigmentation of his nail appeared over 6 months, following paronychial inflammation. The melanonychia was associated with brittleness. There was no onycholysis or hyperkeratosis. Direct examination with potassium hydroxide demonstrated round yeast cells in the specimen. The samples were cultured on Sabouraud glucose agar containing chloramphenicol at 27 degrees C and showed white growth after a few days. The patient was successfully treated with systemic itraconazole.