general surgery

Question 1

what does pus consist of ?

Answer 1

Bacteria
immune cells
dead tissue

Question 2

what is the process by which the body forms pus ?

Answer 2

Suppurative Inflammation

Question 3

how is an abscess formed ?

Answer 3

• Break in the skin causes bacteria to enter
• Innate immune réponse is triggered
• Cells release signaling molecules (cytokines and chemokines) that attract other immune cells
• Key players include macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and mast cells
• These white bloods cells cause supparative inflammation [pus forming]. This is also known as liquefactive necrosis.
• The body walls off this area with fibrinogen
• Sheets of fibrin can form within the abscess - leading to loculations
  There are still a lot of live bacteria within the abscess