Skin + Soft tissue Infections Flashcards
what is erysipelas?
infection of the upper dermis
causative organism of erysipelas?
strep. pyogenes
clinical features of erysipelas?
- mostly occurs in face and limbs
- raised erythematous area
- systemically unwell; fever etc
what is cellulitis?
infection in the deep dermis and subcutaneous fat layer
clinical features of cellulitis?
- spreading erythematous area with no borders
- fever
causative organism of cellulitis?
50/50 staph or strep
treatment of cellulitis?
flucloxacillin
outline the 3 hair associated infections
- folliculitis
- furunculosis
- carbuncles
what is folliculitis?
pustular infection of a single hair follicle
clinical features of folliculitis and most likely causative organism?
- red papules visible
- usually occur on head, buttocks and extremities
- staph aureus
what is furunculosis?
inflammatory infection of a single hair follicle
clinically in furunculosis? most likely causative organism?
- may spontaenously drain
- may extend into dermis/ subcutaneous layer
- staph aureus
what is a carbuncle?
an abscess encomapssing many adjacent hair follicles
clinically with a carbuncle?
systemically unwell
treatment of carbuncle?
antibiotics & surgery
what are the types of necrotising fasciitis?
- Mixed anaerobes and aerobe infection
- requires urgent surgery - Monomicrobial
- strep pyogenes
what is seen clinically in necrotising fasciitis?
- sequential progression of
- erythema
- oedema
- unremitting pain
- haemorrhagic bullae
- skin necrosis
- systemic symptoms ie hypotension
treatment of necrotising fasciitis?
broad-spectrum antibiotics
- gentamicin/ fluclox / clindamycin
what is pyomyositis?
this is an abscess formation within a muscle
clinically in pyomyositis?
- systemic symptoms ie fever, pain
- if untreated, can lead to septic shock
- must investigate with MRI/ CT
causative organism & treatment of pyomyositis?
- s.aureus
- antibiotics + drainage
how may you get septic bursitis?
spread from adjacent infection
ddx of septic bursitis and how can you distinguish ?
septic arthritis
get patient to bend knee and if relatively painless, most likely NOT septic arthritis
clinically in septic bursitis?
- swollen
- warmth
- erythema
- fever
diagnosis of septic bursitis? most common causative organism?
- diagnosis –> aspiration of fluid
- staph aureus
what is infectious tenosynovitis?
infection of the synovial sheath surrounding tendons
where does infectious tenosynovitis usually arise? most common causative organism?
- usually in the common flexor tendons of the hand
- staph aureus
clinically in infectious tenosynovitis?
- swelling of finger
- held in semi flexed positon
treatment of infectious tenosynovitis?
antibiotics and surgery
what are toxin-mediated syndromes caused by?
superantigens which release pyogenic endotoxins, which attach directly to T cells
what does toxin 1 cause?
- causes toxic shock syndrome (staph & strep)
- fever
- hypotension
- rash
- organ failure
what is staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome caused by?
- what are the symptoms
- in what age group does it usually occur
by exotoxins of staph aureus- toxins A & B
- widespread bullae
- skin exfoliation
- fever
- mostly occurs in <5’s
venflon-associated infections are usually caused by what organisms?
- MRSA
- methicillin sensitive staph aureus
