Microbial Diseases Of Skin And Wounds Pt. 1 Flashcards
What is the term for a small abscess?
Pimple (not the acne kind)
What is a pus-filled pocket in the skin resulting from bacterial infection that can occur on the surface or within deeper structures of the skin?
Abscess
What type of abscess is a large, painful, raised nodular extension of folliculitis into surrounding tissue?
Furuncle or boil
What is the term for a coalescence of several furuncles that can extend into deep tissues and possibly involve the organ systems?
Carbuncle
What is a type of skin abscess that involves the hair follicle?
Folliculitis
What is an abscess at the eyelid base?
Sty
What are the symptoms of abscesses?
Red, itching, burning, drainage of either blood or pus (or both)
What genus of pathogens is most commonly the cause of abscesses/folliculitis?
Staphylococcus
What two species are commonly found on the skin and can be involved with abscesses?
Staphylococcus epidermidis and staphylococcus aureus
What is the most predominant pathogen on the skin?
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Which pathogen is most likely to be the the cause of infection for abscesses/folliculitis even though it isn’t the most predominant one on the skin?
Staphylococcus aureus
How are abscesses typically acquired?
Direct contact/fomites, often auto-inoculation
What is the diagnosis for abscesses?
Isolation of bacteria in grape-like clusters from pus
What is the treatment for abscesses?
May heal on its own in about two weeks, but warm compresses can help with itching, swelling and natural draining. Medical intervention would involve professional draining or antibiotics.
How can abscesses be prevented?
Hand washing, proper procedures in hospitals to minimize MRSA infections
What pathogen causes “hot tub folliculitis”?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
What activity can cause “hot tub folliculitis” to develop?
After using a poorly chlorinated hot tub or spa (appears 6 hours-5 days after)
What are signs of “hot tub folliculitis”?
Many small “pimples” on stomach, buttocks, arms, and legs
Can “hot tub folliculitis” self-resolve?
Yes, in about 7-10 days
What are the signs and symptoms of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome?
Reddening of the skin beginning near the mouth and spreading over the entire body, eventual large blisters where (after about 2 days) outer layer of skin falls off in sheets
What is unique about the blisters formed in staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome?
Lacks white blood cells and bacteria
What is a huge risk for those with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome once the outer layer of skin has fallen off?
Risk for secondary bacterial infections
What is the pathogen usually to blame for staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome?
Some staphylococcus aureus strains
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome is more likely to affect what population?
Infants
What disease can be largely mistaken for child abuse due to the appearance of blisters and the entire body appearing like it was dipped in boiling water?
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
How is staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome usually transmitted?
Person to person contact
What is the diagnosis for staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome?
Sloughing of the skin
What is the treatment for staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome?
Administration of IV antibiotics usually requiring hospitalization in the burn unit
Why is prevention of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome difficult?
Large presentation of staphylococcus strains on the skin naturally
What are the signs and symptoms of impetigo?
Small, flattened red patches on face and limbs that develop into pus-filled vesicles that crust
What is another name for impetigo?
Pyoderma (pyo- = fiery)
What skin condition involves pus filled vesicles affecting the top layers of the skin?
Impetigo
What is the composition of the pus involved with impetigo?
Filled with bacteria and white blood cells (compare to those of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome)
What are the signs and symptoms for erysipelas?
Hot, red skin with a fiery red rash with raised borders
What is the most common location for erysipelas?
Legs (80%)
What pathogen causes 80% of the cases of impetigo?
Staphylococcus aureus
What pathogen causes 80% of the cases of erysipelas?
Streptococcus pyogenes
What is the peak age of incidence of erysipelas?
Ages 60-80 (elderly)
What three groups are more likely to develop erysipelas?
Infants, young children, and elderly (compromised immune systems)
What pathogen causes 20% of erysipelas?
Staphylococcus aureus
What pathogen causes 20% of impetigo?
Streptococcus pyogenes
What is the clinical term for the flesh-eating disease?
Necrotizing fasciitis
What organism is responsible for necrotizing fasciitis and is known as the “flesh-eating bacteria”?
Streptococcus pyogenes
What very serious condition involves streptococci entering the body through breaks in the skin that secrete enzymes and toxins destroy tissue?
Necrotizing fasciitis
What is the fatality rate for necrotizing fasciitis?
Over 50%
What are some signs of necrotizing fasciitis?
Big purplish-red blisters that eventually destroy muscle and fat tissue
How is necrotizing fasciitis usually spread?
Person to person via breaks in the skin
How is necrotizing fasciitis treated?
IV antibiotics and can often lead to amputation surgery
Why is early diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis difficult?
Symptoms are nonspecific
Necrotizing fasciitis travels along what structure of the body during its course of destroying tissue?
Along fascia
What is a pustule?
A blister-like area full of pus common with severe cases of acne
What is the organism responsible for acne?
Propionibacterium acnes
Acne is seen among what percent of adolescents and young adults?
85%
Why is acne so common?
The pathogen responsible for it is a part of normal microbiota
What is a long term treatment for acne?
Tetracycline
What are the signs and symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease?
Bump (papule) or blister (pustule) at the site of injury as a first sign followed by lymphadenopathy near the area, fatigue, fever, headache, malaise
What is the pathogen responsible for Cat Scratch Disease?
Bartonella henselae
How is Cat Scratch Disease transmitted?
Cat bites or scratches
How is Cat Scratch Disease diagnosed and treated?
Serological testing, treated with antibiotics
What substance is to blame for the tissue damage associated with Pseudomonas infection?
Production of pyocyanin (blue-green in color)
What are the signs and symptoms of Pseudomonas infections?
Fever, chills, and the production of purulent matter in infected wounds
A population of individuals with what other ailment are more at risk for Pseudomonas infections?
Severe burns (2/3 of burn victims)
What is the most common causative agent of Pseudomonas infection?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Where can Pseudomonas aeruginosa be found?
Soil, decaying matter, moist environments
Why is Pseudomonas infection difficult to treat?
Due to multidrug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
How can Pseudomonas infection be diagnosed?
Only at the severe stages when pyocyanin discoloration occurs indicating massive infection
What are the signs and symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever that develop a week after infection?
Flu like symptoms, followed by a non-itchy spotted rash on trunk and appendages, soles and palms (90% of infected individuals), petechiae in 50%
Severe cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever develop what adverse conditions?
Respiratory, CNS, GI, and renal system failure
What is the pathogen responsible for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?
Rickettsia rickettsii
What is the most severe and most common Ricketsial illness?
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
What is the reservoir for Rickettsia rickettsii?
Rodents
What is the vector responsible for the transmission to humans of Rickettsia rickettsii?
Tick (bites)
When are cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever usually reported to the CDC?
During the summer (peak in June and July)
What is the fatality rate for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?
5% with or without treatment
What is the treatment for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?
Removal of the tick (preferably before 24 hours) and antibiotics
