Three Distinct Episodes of Thumb Felon in a Fur Industry Worker

Aims: To present and discuss the etiology of three distinct episodes of thumb felon in a fur industry worker, in association with the required precautions.
Case Presentation: A 61-year-old man working in a fur industry was treated for three distinct episodes of a felon of the right thumb within an 8-month period. He was treated successfully with surgical drainage and antibiotics following each episode. He was symptom-free and returned to work about two months following each episode. Felon formation, in all cases, was due to a Streptococcus constellatus infection secondary to mink hair penetration through the distal nail groove of his thumb. Using protective gloves, no further relapses have occurred during a 5-year follow-up.
Discussion: A felon is an abscess of the pulp of a finger or thumb usually due to percutaneous trauma. Streptococcus constellatus, which is included in the Streptococcus milleri group, is often associated with various pyogenic infections. In the reported case, the lack of hand protection during fur processing was the cause of mink hair infiltration into the pulp of the patient’s thumb through the distal nail groove and of the three episodes of felon formation due to the secondary infection by Streptococcus constellatus.
Conclusion: Lack of hand protection during fur processing could make hands vulnerable to micro-injuries and secondary infections.