General Practise and Primary Healthcare Flashcards
(77 cards)
What is Acne Vulgaris?
Inflammation and obstruction of the pilosebaceous follicle with keratin plugs which results in comedones, inflammation and pustules. Sebaceous glands produce sebum, increased production traps keratin. Comodones can be open (blackheads) or closed
Associated with colonisation of anaerobic bacterium Propionibacterium acnes
Typically affects the face, neck and upper trunk.
Presentation of acne, including the types of scarring
Comedones
- Dilated sebaceous follicle, white if closed, black if open
Inflammatory lesions when follicle bursts, causing papules (small lumps) and pustules (small lumps with yellow pus)
Inflammation may be excessive causing nodules and cysts
Scarring can be:
- Hypertrophic (lumps)
- Ice-pick (indentations)
- Hyperpigmentation (darkening of skin)
What is unique about drug induced acne and what is acne fulminans
Drug Induced - monomorphic
Fulminans - Includes systemic upset, requires hospital admission and responds to oral steroids
Classifications of Acne
Mild: Open and closed comedones, may have sparse inflammation
Moderate: Widespread non inflammatory lesions and nuerous papules and macules
Severe: Extensive inflammation, nodules, pitting, scarring.
Management of mild/moderate/severe acne
Mild - 12 week topical combination therapy
- Topical adapalene and topical benzoyl peroxide
- Topical tretinoin and topical clindamycin
- Topical benzoyl peroxide and topical clindamycin
Moderate/severe - 12 week course of Topical adapalene and benzoyl peroxide with oral lymecycline or doxycycline
Important considerations with oral abx in acne
Tetracyclines contraindicated in women breastfeeding, pregnant or in children under 12. Erythromycin can be used
Topical retinoid or oral benzoyl peroxide should be co prescribed with oral abx to prevent resistance
Using antibiotics for >6 months may cause gram negative folliculitis, treat with oral trimethoprim
Which of these should not be used to treat acne
monotherapy with topical or oral antibiotic, or just both together.
Due to risk of resistance
Other possible treatment options for acne
Oral retinoids (TERATOGENIC)
COCP in women
Co-cyprindiol (most effective COCP but has higher risk of VTE)
Isotretinoin - reduces sebum production. Strongly teratogenic, must be on reliable contraception and stop for a month before pregnancy
Side effects of tretinoin
Dry skin/lips
Photosensitivity
Depression, anxiety, aggression, suicidal ideation
Rarely, stevens johnsons syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis
What is Acute Bronchitis?
Self limiting chest infection. Assoicated with oedematous large airways and sputum productions, may cause wheeze but no other focal chest signs (crackles, dullness to percussion, bronchial breathing etc).
How does bronchitis present?
Cough
Sore throat
Rhinorrhoea
Wheeze (not always present)
Investigations and Management of acute bronchitis
Clinical diagnosis
Analgesia, fluid intake.
Only do antibiotics if:
- Systemically very unwell
- Pre-existing comorbidities
- CRP 20-100
What is the most common STI and which one is fastest increasing?
Chlamydia is most common (especially in 15-24 yo) and gonorrhoea is the fastest increasing, with a big concern about antibiotic resistance
What is Chlamydia?
The most prevalent STI in the UK, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular pathogen. Affects ~1/10 young women and has a 7-21 day incubation period.
Risk Factors for Chlamydia
Young
Sexually active
Multiple partners
Clinical Features of Chlamydia
Largely asymptomatic (50% men, 75% women)
Women:
- Cervicitis (pain, discharge, bleeding)
- Dysuria
- Painful sex +- postcoital bleeding
Men:
- Urethral discharge/discomfort
- Dysuria
- Epididymo-orchitis
- Reactive arthritis
What might an examination of chlamydia show?
Pelvic/abdominal tenderness
Cervical motion tenderness
Inflamed cervix
Purulent discharge
What is the screening for chlamydia?
National Chlamydia Screening Program
Every sexually active person under 25yo screened annually for chlamydia. Positive tests are retested in 3 months, to ensure they havent been reinfected.
Limitation: Opportunistic testing (opt in)
When attending a GUM clinic what is tested for at minimum?
Chlamydia
Gonorrhoea
Syphilis
HIV
What STIs can be investigated with a charcoal swab?
Bacterial vaginosis
Candidiasis
Gonorrhoea (endocervical swab)
Trichomonas (posterior fornix swab)
Group B Strep
What STIs are tested for using NAAT. How are samples collected in men and women
Nucleic acid amplification test
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea
In women, a self vulvovaginal (1), endocervical (2) swab or first catch urine (3) are used.
In men, can be done with first catch urine or urethral swab
Where else can NAAT swabs be done to check for chlamydia
Rectal and pharyngeal NAAT swabs (anal and oral sex)
What is the management for chlamydia?
First line:
- Doxycycline 100mg 2xday for 7 days
- Azithromycin 1g orally (mycoplasma genitalium is resistant so less preferred)
How is chlamydia managed in pregnancy
Doxycycline is inappropriate in pregnancy (fetal tooth/bone development, maternal hepatotoxicity) and breastfeeding
Use:
- Azithromycin 1g STAT
- Erythromycin or amoxicillin could be used.
Test of cure not routinely recommended, but recommended for rectal cases, in pregnancy, and where symptoms persist.