Exam 2 Flashcards
Abscesses
Pus-filled pockets in the skin resulting from bacterial infection
Location of abscesses
Skin surface and deeper structures of the skin
Furuncle
Large, painful, raised nodular extension of folliculitis
Several furuncles that extend deep into tissues and involve multiple organs/systems
Carbuncle
Skin abscess involving the hair follicle
Folliculitis
Folliculitis at the eyelid base
Sty
Characteristics of abscesses
Swollen, red, itching, burning,
May drain pus, blood or both
Most common pathogen found on the skin
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Most common pathogen to cause infection
Staphylococcus aureus
Epidemiology of abscesses
- Direct contact/ fomites
- Often auto-inoculation and/or opportunistic
- Toxins contribute to virulence
Drug resistant strains
MRSA and VRSA
Emerging Diseases
A new disease that not much is known about but it is worrisome
Diagnosis of drug resistant strains
Isolation of bacteria in grapelike clusters from pus
Prevention of drug resistant strains
Hand washing and proper procedures in hospitals to minimize MRSA/ VRSA
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Cause of hot tub folliculitis
Hot tub folliculitis
Appears as small “pimples” on stomach, buttocks, arms, and legs betweeen 6 hours and 5 days after using a poorly chlorinated hot tub
Treatment of hot tub folliculitis
Goes away on its own in 7-10 days
Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
Redding of skin begins near mouth, spreads over entire body. Large blisters containing fluid form. After 2 days skin begins to peel off in sheets
Exfoliative toxins
Excreted by 5% of staphylococcus aureus
Causes skin to fall off
Causes SSSS
SSSS common in
Infants and children less than 5
Transition of SSSS
Person to person spread of bacteria
Diagnosis of SSSS
Sloughing of skin
Treatment of SSSS
Antibiotics, usually hospitalized and put in the burn unit
Prevention of SSSS
Difficult because staphylococcus aureus is widespread
Impetigo AKA
Pyoderma
Impetigo
Small, flattened red patches on face and limbs.
Patches turn into pus-filled vesicles that break and secrete honey-colored, sticky crust
those at risk of impetigo
Children
Erysipelas
Fiery red rash with raised borders on face, arms, or legs
Skin presenting red, hot, with sharply defined raised areas
Erysipelas
Pathogen of impetigo
S. Aureus - 80%
Streptococcus pyogenes- 20%
Streptococcus pyogenes
Causes 20% of impetigo and most cases of erysipelas
Most dangerous streptococcus
Transmission of impetigo and erysipelas
Person to person or fomites
Bacteria invades compromised skin
Ages effected by impetigo
Children 2-5 years old
Erysipelas common in
Infants, young children, elderly patients
MC in ages 60-80
Diagnosis of impetigo
Presence of vesicles filled with bacteria and WBCs
Erysipelas appears on _______ most commmonly in adults
Legs
“Flesh-eating bacteria”
Necrotizing fasciitis
Streptococci secrete _____ and _____ that destroys tissues
Enzymes and toxins
Spread of necrotizing fasciitis
Begin as painful large, purple-red blisters. Destroys muscle and fat tissue and spreads along fascia
Most common cause of necrotizing fasciitis
Streptococcus pyogenes
Causes toxemia and failure of organs
Necrotizing fasciitis
Fatality rate of necrotizing fasciitis
> 50%
Treatment of necrotizing fasciitis
IV antibiotics, surgery, and often amputation
Dead and dying bacteria and sebum block the pore
Blackhead
Accumulation of colonizing bacteria and sebum
Whitehead
Cystic acne
Severe inflammation of the hair follicle causing pustule formation and rupture.
Often resolved by scar tissue