Re: What kind of bacteria is under fingernails?

Hi Lauren,

The answer to your question is difficult to answer exactly. The types of bacteria which live under your fingernails are probably very similar to those that reside on your skin. The most prominent of these is a "bug" named Staphylococcus epidermidis. I can assure you that there are many others as well but there are quite too many to list.

I can answer your second question by saying this... If your hands happen to come into contact with an infectious organism and you have touched it in a way as to get it under your fingernails, it is likely that you could pass the organism on to someone else if you happen to dig your nails into that persons skin. However, that answer is solely dependent on what organism you have come in contact with because different organisms rely on different modes of transmission. Some may need to penetrate the skin while others may not. Some enter the body only through the eyes or the nose or the mouth. Some can only survive for short times when exposed to the air and therefore will not likely be transmitted from an outside source such as your fingernails.

The variety of organisms you will encounter is tremendous and is what makes microbiology such a fascinating subject to me. If you have more questions or more specific questions please contact me.

Kris
kblair@indiana.edu