Appropriate hand hygiene includes diligently cleaning and
trimming fingernails, which may harbor dirt and germs and can
contribute to the spread of some infections, such as pinworms.
Fingernails should be kept short, and the undersides should be
cleaned frequently with soap and water. Because of their length,
longer fingernails can harbor more dirt and bacteria than short
nails, thus potentially contributing to the spread of infection.
Before clipping or grooming nails, all equipment (for example,
nail clippers and files) should be properly cleaned. Sterilizing
equipment before use is especially important when nail tools are
shared among a number of people, as is common in commercial nail
salons. Infections of the fingernails or toenails are often
characterized by swelling of the surrounding skin, pain in the
surrounding area, or thickening of the nail. In some cases,
these infections may be serious and need to be treated by a
physician. To help prevent the spread of germs and nail
infections: - Keep nails sh