Skin and soft tissue infections

Question 1

What are the normal skin flora?

Answer 1

Staph. epidermidis
Cornyebacteria
Anaerobes

Question 2

Transient flora that are pathological, especially if cultured from blood

Answer 2

Staph aureus

Enterobacteriacae

Question 3

Definition of cellulitis

Answer 3

Acute, spreading infection of skin + subcut. tissue

Question 4

What are the risk factors for cellulitis?

Answer 4

Trauma or skin lesion that causes a break in the epidermis

Question 5

Which organisms are most likely to cause community acquired cellulitis?

Answer 5

Strep. pyogenes

Staph. aureus

Question 6

What are clinical manifestations of cellulitis?

Answer 6

Warm 
Tender 
Red 
Swollen 
\+/- regional lymphadenopathy 
\+/- fever

Question 7

Definition of erysipelas?

Answer 7

Clearly demarcated area of erythema and induration that t involves the epidermis and the dermis.

Question 8

What are the risk factors for recurrent cellulitis?

Answer 8

Chronic venous insufficiency
Diabetic foot
Fungal foot infections (tinea pedis)

Question 9

When should surgical debridement be considered for the treatment of a diabetic foot?

Answer 9

If severe

No response to dressings + ABs

Question 10

What is the management of bite wounds?

Answer 10

Clean the wound

Co-amoxiclav

Question 11

Should pus swabs be taken for skin infections?

Answer 11

Try to avoid as far as possible. Rather aspirate/ biopsy/ do a blood culture.