Skin and soft tissue infection Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is impitigo?
Superficial skin infection
Impetigo is caused by what?
Most commonly due to Staph aureus
Less commonly Strep pyogenes
Features of impetigo?
- Multiple vesicular lesions on an erythematous base
- Golden crust is highly suggestive of this diagnosisa

Who is impetigo common in?
- Common in children 2-5 years of age
- Highly infectious
- Usually occurs on exposed parts of the body including face, extremities and scalp
Predisposing factors for impetigo?
- Skin abrasions
- Minor trauma
- Burns
- Poor hygiene
- Insect bites
- Chickenpox
- Eczema
- Atopic dermatitis
What is the treatment for impetigo?
- Small areas can be treated with topical antibiotics alone
- Large areas need topical treatment and oral antibiotics (ex flucloxacillin)
What is erysipelas?
- Infection of the upper dermis
- Painful, red area (no central clearing)
Common features of erysipelas?
- Painful, red area (no central clearing)
- Associated fever
- Regional lymphadenopathy and lymphangitis
- Typically has distinct elevated borders
Erysipelas is caused by what?
- Most commonly due to Strep pyogenes

Erysipelas affects where?
- 70-80% of cases involves the lower limbs
- 5-20% affect the face
RF for erysipelas?
- Tends to occur in areas of pre-existing lymphoedema, venous stasis, obesity, paraparesis, diabetes mellitus
- May involve intact skin
- High recurrence rate (30% within 3 years)
What is cellulitis?
- Diffuse skin infection involving deep dermis and subcutaneous fat
- Presents as a spreading erythematous area with no distinct borders
Causative organisms for cellulits?
- Most likely organisms are Strep pyogenes and Staph aureus
- Remember role of Gram negatives in diabetics and febrile neutropaenics
What are the common features of cellulitis?
- Fever is common
- Regional lymphadenopathy and lymphangitis
- Possible source of bacteraemia

What are the predisposing factors for cellulitis?
- Diabetes mellitus
- Tinea pedis
- Lymphoedema
- Patients can have lymphangitis and/or lymphadenitis

What are the treatments for erysipelas and cellulitis?
- A combination of anti-staphylococcal and anti-streptococcal antibiotics
- In extensive disease, admission for intravenous antibiotics and rest
What are the hair associated infections?
- Folliculitis
- Furunculosis
- Carbuncles
What organism causes folliculitis?
- Most common organism is Staph aureus
- Benign condition
- Constitutional symptoms not often seen
What are furuncles commonly known as?
- boils
- Single hair follicle-associated inflammatory nodule
- Extending into dermis and subcuta
Causative organism for furunculosis?
- Staph aureus most common organism
- Systemic symptoms uncommon
What are carbuncles?
- Occurs when infection extends to involve multiple furuncles
- Often located back of neck, posterior trunk or thigh
- Multiseptated abscesses
- Purulent material may be expressed from multiple sites
- Constitutional symptoms common

Which hair associated infection requires admission?
Carbuncles
- Carbuncles often require admission to hospital, surgery and intravenous antibiotics
What is necrotising?
- One of the infectious diseases emergencies
- Any site may be affected
RF for necrotising fasciitis?
- Diabetes mellitus
- Surgery
- Trauma
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Skin popping
