M9 Wound Infections Flashcards
What is normal flora for the skin?
- Diphtheroids (Corynebacterium & friends)
- Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Other coagulase-negative staphylococci
- Cutibacterium acnes
Note: Even S. aureus could be normal flora in small amounts.
What kind of organisms can infect wounds?
Bacteria, parasites, fungus & viruses. Toxins too!
Very diverse and complex, only main ones for us.
Can come from outside (invasion) or from blood
Do physicians often seek lab culture for wound infections? What do they rely on?
Physicians rely on appearance, and seek for culture when needed
What is the pathogenesis of superficial wound infections?
- Trauma or systemic spread.
- Local inflammation and immune response.
- Invasion of epithelium.
What epidermis infection is common in kids and what organisms typically cause it?
Impetigo, Erythematous lesion that may be bullous or nonbullous
Typically caused by S. aureus (bullous) or S. pyogenes (Gr. A - nonbullous).
Mostly a rash on the face (near mouth and nose).
What type of infections can be in the dermis (between the epidermis and the subcutaneous fatty region?
Dermis
“erysipelas”
“cellulitis
Note: Cellulitis - diffuse spreading infection involving deep layers of dermis
What region of the skin does cellulitis occur in?
Subcutaneous
What infections of the hair follicles can occur? Describe each of them.
Infection of Hair follicles
1. Folliculitis—(minor infection of hair follicles) Papules or pustules that are pierced by a hair and surrounded with redness
2. Furnuculosis (boil)
Abscess that begins as a red nodule in a hair follicle that ultimately becomes painful and full of pus
3. Carbunculosis - Furuncles that coalesce and spread more deeply to the dermis and subcutaneous tissues; they usually have multiple sites, which drain to the skin surface (sinuses)
What organisms can cause a papule skin infection?
Agents: Human papillomavirus (HPV), pox virus, scabies, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Note: Papule is a elevated, solid lesions, smaller than nodule.
**Mariela highlighted as important for our lab.
What organisms can cause a nodule skin infection?
Agents: Corynebacterium diphtheriae**, Sporothrix schenckii, fungi,
Mycobacterium marinum, and Nocardia spp.
Note: Nodule is a raised, solid lesion, larger
**Mariela highlighted as important for our lab.
What kind of organisms can cause a pustule skin infection?
Agents: Candida spp., dermatophytes, herpes simplex virus (HSV), Neisseria gonorrhoeae, S. aureus, Group A streptococci, and varicella-zoster virus
Note: A pustule is a Raised, pus-filled lesion containing leukocytes and fluid
**Mariela highlighted as important for our lab.
What anaerobe is known to cause a ‘Bulla’? What other causative agents are there?
Clostridium spp.*,
Other causative agents:
HSV, gram-negative rods, S. aureus, and vibrios*
*Mariela highlighted as important for our lab.
What is the condition called that results in lesion with the loss of epidermis and dermis? Typical causative agents?
Ulcer
Agents: Bacillus anthracis, bowel flora, Haemophilus ducreyi, and Treponema pallidum
What two organisms typically cause cellulitis? What other organisms can also cause it (less commonly)?
- S.aureus
- S.pyogenes
Less common:
- Aeromonas spp.
- Vibrio spp.
- Haemophilus influenzae
What does Erysipelas infection look like on the skin? Symptoms?
- Painful, red, and swollen indurated lesions. (Induration is the thickening and hardening of soft tissue as a result of the inflammation process).
- Symptoms: Fever & regional lymphadenopathy
What organisms typically are involved in a erysipelas infection of the skin?
Etiologic factors
1. Group A streptococci
2. Sometimes group B, C, or G streptococci
What organisms often causes a chronic infection of the keratinized layer of the epidermis?
Infection is called Erythrasma
Agent: Corynebacterium minutissimum
What condition and its appearance is the organism Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
associated with?
Erysipeloid: Purplish, nonvesiculated skin lesion with an irregular, raised border.
Causes “erysipeloid” lesions in humans.
What is dermatophytosis?
Dermatophytosis—Fungal infection of the skin
What does Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae look like (morphology) on a gram stain?
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae:
- small, slim rod or curved filamentous, Gram positive
What does Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae produce and what damage to a person can it do?
Produce enzyme that may cause vascular damage/thrombosis
transmission: contaminated food, water, carrier pigs (occupational)
Erysipelothrix primarily swine associated
How is the organism that causes Erysipelothrix transmitted and what environment/animal is it associated with?
Transmission: contaminated food, water, carrier pigs (occupational)
Erysipelothrix primarily swine associated.