Skin and Soft Tissue Flashcards
What are the skin compartments?
Epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous fat, fascia and muscle
What are the infection sites of the skin?
Impetigo - epidermis
Folliculitis - hair follicle
Erysipelas - deeper in skin
What are things to consider about the host?
Diabetes leading to neuropathy and vasculopathy
Immunosuppression
Renal failure
Milroy’s disease - lymphoedema of lower limbs
Predisposing skin conditions
Describe impetigo
Superficial skin infection
Multiple vesicular lesions on erythematous base
Golden crust is highly suggestive of diagnosis
Highly infectious
What most commonly causes impetigo?
Staph. aureus
Less common - strep pyogenes
What are predisposing factors for impetigo?
Skin abrasions, minor trauma, burns, poor hygiene, insect bites, chickenpox, eczema and atopic dermatitis
Where does impetigo mainly occur?
Exposed parts of body including face, extremities and scalp
Common in children 2-5 years
What is the treatment for impetigo?
Small areas can be treated with topical antibiotics alone
Large need topical treatment and oral antibiotics - flucloxacillin
Describe erysipelas
Infection of the upper dermis
Painful, red area with associated fever
Regional lymphadenopathy and lymphangitis
Distinct elevated borders
High recurrence rate
What is erysipelas most commonly due to?
Strep pyogenes
Where does erysipelas mainly involve?
70-80% of cases involve lower limbs and 5-20% effect face
Tends to occur in areas of pre-existing lymphoedema, venous stasis, obesity, paraparesis and DM
Describe cellulitis
Diffuse skin infection involving deep dermis and subcutaneous fat
Presents as spreading erythematous area with no distinct borders
Fever is common
Regional lymphadenopathy and lymphangitis
Possible source of bacteraemia
What is cellulitis most commonly due to?
Strep pyogenes and staph aureus
Gram negatives in diabetics and febrile neutropenic
What are some predisposing factors of cellulitis?
DM, tinea pedis (athletes foot) and lymphoedema
Patients can have lymphangitis and/ or lymphadenitis
What is the treatment for erysipelas and cellulitis?
Combination of anti-staphylococcal and anti-streptococcal antibiotics
In extensive disease - admission for IV antibiotics and rest
What are some hair assocated infections?
Folliculitis, furunculosis and carbuncles
Describe folliculitis
Circumscribed, pustular infection of a hair follicle
Up to 5mm in diameter
Present as small red papules
Central areas of purulence that may rupture and drain
Constitutional symptoms not often seen
Where is folliculitis mainly found?
Head, back, buttocks and extremities
What is the most common organism causing folliculitis?
Staph aureus
Benign condition
Describe furunculosis
Referred as boils
Single hair follicle associated inflammatory nodule extending into dermis and subcutaneous tissue
Usually affected moist, hairy, friction prone areas of skin
May spontaneously drain purulent material
What are the risk factors and causes for furunculosis?
Obesity, DM, atopic dermatitis, chronic kidney disease and corticosteroid use
Staph aureus
Describe carbuncle
Occurs when infection spreads to involve multiple furuncles
Multiseptated abscesses and purulent material may be expressed from multiple sites
Constitutional symptoms common
Neck, posterior trunk or thigh
What is the treatment of hair associated infections?
Folliculitis - no treatment or topical antibiotics
Furunculosis - no treatment. If not improving then oral antibiotics
Carbuncles - hospital admission, surgery and IV antibiotics
What are predisposing conditions for necrotising fasciitis?
DM, surgery, trauma, peripheral vascular disease and skin popping
What is type I necrotising fasciitis?
Refers to mixed aerobic and anaerobic infection
Typical organism - strep, staph, enterococci, gram negative bacilli and clostridium