Bacterial Skin Infections Flashcards
Impetigo
Acute, contagious infection with organisms carried in the nose cause by Staphylococci or Streptococci
Impetigo sx and tx
Vesicles, pustules, honey-colored crust on red base; tx is topical antibacterials like Bactroban
Abscesses
Red, tender, inflamed skin with a collection of pus and red, inflamed borders; may feel fluctuant (fluid-filled)
Abscess tx
Incision and drain (I&D), antibiotics
Furuncle
Bacterial infection of the hair follicle
Carbuncle
Painful, deep swell of skin caused by bacteria
Tx for carbuncles and furuncles
I&D and antibiotics
Cellulitis
Bacterial infection of skin and tissue caused by Staph or strep bacteria that spreads to surrounding tissue
Causes of cellulitis
Animal bite, bug bite, cut; initial injury that spreads to surrounding healthy tissue
Where is cellulitis usually located?
Lower extremities
Cellulitis sx
Red, pain, swollen and warm; may be blisters
Is cellulitis contagious?
Not contagious but may spread to lymph nodes and bloodstream
Cellulitis tx
PO systemic, IV depending on severity; mark the spot to watch for spread
MRSA
Methicillin resistant staph infection; caused by a variety of Staph, a bacteria that naturally occurs on the skin, that is resistant to many antibiotics
Hospital-acquired MRSA and tx
Associated with invasive procedures like surgery, IV tubes, artificial joints; treated with IV vancomycin or antibiotics like Xyvax
community-acquired MRSA and tx
Condition that is spread person to personal often begins as a single boil; treated with Bactrim or dicloxacillin
People at high risk for MRSA
Ppl living in crowded areas, high school wrestlers, childcare workers
MRSA sx
Warm, purulent, fever, quickly developing abscesses; can also infect urine, lymph, sputum
Where can MRSA affect?
Deep in body—bones, joints, surgical wounds, blood, heart valves, lungs—can be life-threatening
Bactroban as prophylaxis
Bactroban nasal ointment may be given prior to surgery to prevent infection (benefits of this are not certain)
Main types of skin cancer
Basal cell, squamous cell, melanoma
Precancerous lesions
Actinic keratosis; benign lesions due to damage by UV rays; red, scaly plaques common in fair skin
Solar lentigos
Benign, age/liver spots; more common with fair skin
Risk factors for skin cancer
Women before age 49, men after age 49, fair skin, increases with age; 5-year survival rate is worse in dark skin
Basal cell carcinoma
Most common, least malignant; most curable–slow and metastasizes the least
Characteristics of basal cell cancer
nodular form begins as small, flesh color or pink dome shape bump; translucent, shiny, pearly, forms an ulcer with a shiny border
squamous cell cancer
2nd most frequent type of skin cancer, inc with sun exposure, cure with early tx; can metastasize to lymph nodes or internal organs
Squamous cell characteristics
red and scaly, keratotic, slightly elevated, irregular border often with shallow, chronic ulcer
Melanoma
direct cancer of the melanocytes; cells grow on skin and spread down into the epidermis and dermis; can also form in the eyes and under the nails and invade blood and lymphatic vessels that metastasize
Risk factors for melanoma
fam hx, blond/red hair, presence of freckling on the upper back, hx of 3+ blistering sunburns before age 20, hx of 3+ years of outside jobs as a teen
Most common form of melanoma
Superficial spreading melanoma
Most aggressive type of skin cancer
Nodular form of melanoma
Eczema
Group of skin condition causing skin inflammation and irritation (not contagious); caused by overactive immune system
Atopic eczema puts you at a higher risk of…
Asthma and hay fever; inherited
Char of atopic eczema
Priorities, rash on face/knees/wrists/hands/feet, skin very dry/thick/scaly, lesions may appear reddish and then turn burn, lesions can ooze and crust, exacerbated by heat, cold, detergent, upper respiratory infection, stress
Eczema tx
Vasoline, aquaphor to keep moist and relieve itching/prevent infection, cold compresses, OTC hydrocortisone and immune modulator meds (be cautious bc risk of cancer)
Psoriasis
Long-term chronic condition most commonly beginning in young adulthood; may be autoimmune disorder or overactive immune system, linked with obesity and vascular disease
Psoriasis characterized by…
Skin cells grow too quickly causing skin to be thick, white, silvery, or have red patches—plaques; skin does not flake off like normal skin
Psoriasis tx
Keep skin moist, UV light, corticosteroid creams/lotions, topical meds, immune modulating meds
Psoriatic arthritis
Priorsis over skin with arthritis (tx with immune modulating meds)
