Bacterial Skin Infection Flashcards
What are the commonest causes of bacterial skin infection?
Staphylococcus aureus (most common)
Staphylococcus pyogenes (less common but generally more severe)
What is the antibiotic of choice in the treatment of bacterial skin infections?
Flucloxicillin
What is impetigo?
Highly contagious infection causing erythematous golden-crusting lesions on the face
What is staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS)?
Infection with staphylococcal strain with produces SSSS toxin causing red blistering skin in children under 5
What is necrotising fasciitis?
Bacterial infection spreading in the fascial planed beneath the skin causing rapid tissue destruction and extreme pain
How does necrotising fasciitis present?
Extreme pain and a mild rash
pain more extreme than clinical picture suggests
What are the two classes of necrotising fasciitis and what causes them?
Type I: caused by mixed anaerobes/coliforms and typically occurs after abdominal surgery
Type II: caused by streptococcus pyogenes
How do you treat necrotising fasciitis?
Urgent surgical debridement
Culture
Antibiotics
What is syphilis?
Sexually transmitted infection from treponema pallidum bacterium
What is the gram stain appearance of treponema pallidum?
Gram negative spirochete
What are the stages of syphilus infection?
Primary phase: chancre (painless ulcer)
Secondary: widespread erythematous rash, mucous membrane snail track ulcers
Tertiary: CNS, cardiovascular, liver and bone damage
How can syphilis be diagnosed?
Swab and PCR of chancre
How is syphilis treated?
Penicillin
What is Lyme disease?
Infection from borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by ticks
What is the shape of borrelia burgdorferi?
Spirochete
