W24 Clinical management of Cellulitis, Acne and Rosacea Flashcards
What is Cellulitis?
What are the symptoms?
- Common
- Acute bacterial infection of dermis & Subcutaneous tissue
Symptoms
* Pain, warmth, swelling, redness of infected area
* Possible blisters
* Fever, malaise, nausea, rigors
* Tracking
Cellulitis is an infection caused by bacteria getting into the deeper layers of your skin
Cellulitis: Which regions of the body does it affect?
Commonly affects lower limbs
Can also affect:
* Face
* Ears
* Trunk
* Upper limbs
What are the causes of cellulitis?(3 microorganisms)
Microorganims entry after after skin barrier broken
* Strep. Pyrogenes
* Staph. Aureus
* Pseudo aeruginosa
What are the risks of cellulitis?
What are the complications?
Risks:
* Lymphoedema
* Leg oedema
* Venous insufficiency
* Hx venous surgery
* Obesity
* Pregnancy
* Diabetes
* Kidney/liver disease
* Chickenpox
* Alcohol misuse
Complications:
* Necrotising fasciitis
* Myositis
* Sepsis
* Subcutaneous abscess
* Post-strep Nephritis
* Leg ulceration
* Lymphoedema
* Recurrent cellulitis
How to diagnose cellulitis?
History
•Symptoms – Duration & severity
•Recent trauma to skin?
•Comorbidities?
•Predisposed conditions?
Examination
•Assessment of area
•Observation & vital signs
•Skin breaks/wounds
•Assess for risk factors
Investigations
•Skin swab
•Skin biopsy
•Ultrasonography
•WCC
•ESR
•CRP
What is the categorisation of cellulitis?
*Class I – No systemic illness or comorbidity
*Class II – Systemically unwell or well with comorbidity
*Class III – Significant systemic illness/upset
*Class IV – Sepsis or sever life threatening illness
Cellulitis – Differential diagnosis
- DVT
- Septic arthritis
- Gout
- Thrombophlebitis
- Cutaneous abscess
- Drug reaction
- Erythema nodosum
- Pyoderma gangrenosum
- Cancer
Cellulitis – Management
When is hospital admission req?
URGENT Hosp admission:
* Class III or Iv suspected
* Class II + serious illness
* Rapid deterioration
* Very young or very frail patients
* Facial cellulitis
* Orbital/periorbital cellulitis
Seek advice
* Wound contaminated by fresh or sea water
* Recurrent episodes
Cellulitis – Management
What medications are used in treatment?
Antibiotic treatment
* Flucloxacillin – 1st line
* Clarithromycin – 1st line in pen. allergy
* Doxycycline
* Erythromycin
* Metronidazole – If anaerobic cause suspected, avoid alcohol
* Co-amoxiclav - Avoid due to high risk c.diff…but 1st line in facial cellulitis
What is Acne?
- Chronic, inflammatory skin condition
- Blocked, inflamed pilosebaceous unit
- Affects areas with high amounts of pilosebaceous units
- Face, back, chest
- Peaks in adolescence but can affect any age
- Non-inflammatory comedones
- Whiteheads (open) & blackheads (closed)
- Papules, pustules, nodules & cysts
What is Acne? (pathophysiology)
- Excess sebum production
- Altered follicular keratinocyte proliferation – follicular plugs
- Bacteria proliferation – Cutibacterium acnes
- Affected follicle becomes inflamed
Acne
What are the contributing factors? (2)
What are the complications? (2)
Contributing factors
* Genetics – Link between identical twins, severe acne in people with FH
* Diet – Link with high GI food/diet
Complications
* Scarring
* Psychological impact – depression, anxiety, low self-esteem
Acne
What to ask when taking a history?
History
* Duration, type, distribution
* Previous treatment
* Exacerbating features
* Systemic features
* Psychological impact
* Family Hx – Endocrine disorders, PCOS, Acne
* Drug Hx – Androgens, ciclosporin, isoniazid, lithium
* Hyperandrogenism
Acne- Differential diagnosis? (5)
- Rosacea
- Perioral dermatitis
- Folliculitis & boils
- Drug-induced acne
- Keratosis pilaris
Acne:
What are the different categories? (5)
- Mild – Predominantly non-inflamed lesions & some inflammatory lesions
- Moderate– More widespread, more inflamed papules & pustules
- Severe – widespread inflammatory papules, pustules, nodules & cysts with scarring
- Conglobate acne – Rare & severe. Extensive inflammatory papules, nodules, cysts on trunk & upper limbs
- Acne fulminans – Rare. Severe inflammatory reactions, deep ulcerations & erosions. Fever & joint stiffness