Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Question 1

What causes impetigo and bulbous impetigo?

Answer 1

Impetigo comes up as red papules on skin - caused by streptococcus pyogenes.

Bulbous impetigo is caused by S. aureus, and involves large blisters around the lips that pop and become yellow and crusty.

Question 2

What is paronychia?

Describe the difference causes between acute and chronic paronychia.

Answer 2

Infection of the soft tissue around the nails, caused by S.aureus in acute situations.

Chronic paronychia is often caused by candida albicans, after exposure to dirty water (housekeepers, dishwashers etc.)

Question 3

What causes dactylitis?

Answer 3

Group A streptococcus - painful swelling of fingers and toes.

Question 4

What is folliculitis and what causes it?

Answer 4

Infection of hair follicles and apocrine glands - caused by S aureus

Question 5

What are furuncles and carbuncles?

Answer 5

Caused by S aureus - furuncles are deeper infections of hair follicles, and carbuncles are connected clusters of furuncles.

Question 6

Describe what usually causes erysipelas, and what is it?

Answer 6

Usually caused by beta haemolytic streptococci.

Consists of a red plaque forming across the face.

Treated with pencillin.

Question 7

What is cellulitis?

Answer 7

Bacterial infection of skin and soft tissue - spreading, erythrematous rash. Mostly on legs.

Question 8

What is asepsis, and define cleaning ,disinfection, sterilisation and antiseptic.

Answer 8

Asepsis is any practice that helps reduce number/spread of microorganisms.

Cleaning - removal of foreign material from an object.

Disinfection - process of eliminating many/all pathogenic microorganisms from inanimate object.

Sterilisation = complete elimination of ALL microbes - absoluite condition.

Antiseptic = chemical applied to living tissue to prevent growth of microorganisms.