Skin Infections Flashcards by Megan Rose

What is furunculosis?

Deep infection of the hair follicle

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What is a boil?

Single hair follicle infected

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What is a carbuncle?

Multiple hair follicles infection –> a collection of boils

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What are the two most common causes of bacterial skin infection?

Staph aureus
Strep pyogenes (group A strep)

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What is necrotising fasciitis?

Bacterial infection spreading along the fascial planes beneath the skin surface –> massive tissue destruction

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What are the type most common types of bacteria causing necrotising fasciitis?

Mixed anaerobes/coliforms –> post abdominal surgery

Strep pyogenes

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What is the treatment for necrotising fasciitis?

Urgent surgical debridement + antibiotics

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When is it appropriate to swab a leg ulcer for culture?

Only if signs of infection e.g. cellulitis

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Which organisms would be worth treating if cultured from a leg ulcer?

Strep pyogenes
Staph aureus
Other beta-haemolytic strep
Anaerobes

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What is the pathology of staph scalded skin syndrome?

Exotoxin produced by staph aureus –> splitting between desmosomes in granular layer

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What are the clinical features of staph scalded skin syndrome?

Usually in children
Looked like they’ve been scalded
Widespread erythematous peeling of skin

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What is bullous impetigo?

Localised form of staph scalded skin syndrome

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What is the treatment for a local bacterial skin infection?

Topical fusidic acid or mupirocin

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What does tinea mean?

Fungal infection –> ringworm

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Where are the following tinea infections?

capitis
unguium
barbae
cruris
corporis
pedis
manuum

Scalp
Nail
Beard
Groin
Body
Foot (athletes foot)
Hand

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What does ringworm look like?

Scaling, erythematous ring

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How is a tinea infection diagnosed?

Clinical
Woods lamp
Send scrapings/hair/nail clippings to lab in Dermapak for microscopy and culture

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What is the treatment for tinea infection?

Small area of skin/nail:

clotrimazole (canestan) cream or similar
amorolfine nail paint

Extensive skin/nail or scalp infection:
- terbinafine or intraconazole orally

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What is intertrigo?

Candida infection in skin folds (warm and moist)

–> under breasts, groin, abdominal folds, nappy area

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How is intertrigo treated?

Clotrimazole cream or oral fluconazole

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What is chicken pox caused by?

Varicella zoster virus

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What are the clinical features of chicken pox?

Macules –> papules –> vesicles –> scabs

Fever and itch

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What are some complications of chicken pox?

Study These Flashcards

Secondary bacterial infection
Pneumonitis
Haemorrhagic rash
Scarring 
Encephalitis

How is at risk of chicken pox complications?

Study These Flashcards

Immunocompromised

Extremely of age e.g. neonates + elderly

What should be done is a pregnant woman gets chicken pox late in pregnancy?

Give VZ Ig or aciclovir to mother to prevent neonatal VZV

What is shingles?

Reactivation of VZV in dermatomal distribution

What are the clinical features of shingles?

Tingling/pain --> erythema --> vesicles --> crusts

What is post herpetic neuralgia and who gets it?

Neuralgic pain for > 4 weeks after shingles | More common if elderly or shingles in a trigeminal distribution

Which pattern of shingles would you be most worried about?

Ophthalamic zoster --> V1 distribution | --> urgent ophthalmologist review

Who gets the shingles vaccine in the UK?

70 year olds

What is otic (ear) herpes zoster also known as?

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

What are the clinical features of Ramsay Hunt syndrome?

Vesicles and pain in auditory canal and throat Facial palsy 8th nerve irritation --> deafness, vertigo, tinnitus

Which virus + typecauses cold sores/primary gingivostomatitis?

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1

What is it called when HSV spreads to a finger?

Herpetic whitlow

How are VZV and HSV diagnosed?

Clinically | Viral swab +/- antibody test can be done

What are HSV and VZV treated with?

Aciclovir

What are the clinical features of molluscum contagiosum?

Fleshy, firm, umbilicated, pearlescent nodules, 1-2mm | Self limiting but can last months

Which virus + subtypes cause warts?

HPV 1-4

How can warts be treated?

Topical salicylic acid | Cryotherapy

What is herpangina and what is it caused by?

Blistering rash at back of mouth | --> enteroviruses e.g. coxsackie or echovirus

What causes hand foot and mouth disease?

Enteroviruses especially coxsackie

What are some rare complications of hand foot and mouth disease?

Encephalitis and pulmonary oedema

What is erythema infectiosum and what is it caused by?

Slapped cheek --> parvovirus B19

What are the clinical features of slapped cheek/erythema infectiosum?

Rash of face first, then fades --> | lacy macular rash on body + acute arthritis e.g. wrists

How is slapped cheek diagnosed?

Parovirus B19 IgM test

What is rubella also known as, and what are the clinical features?

German measles Spotty rash, starts behind ears, spreads to head, neck and body Lymphadenopathy, aching joints and fever

What is the management of rubella and when can it be dangerous?

Usually resolves without treatment | Dangerous if pregnant

What are the features of measles?

Red blotchy rash | Fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes

What is Orf and what are the clinical features?

Virus from sheep --> 'scabby mouth' Firm fleshy nodule on the hands of farmers Self limiting

What is syphilis caused by?

Treponema pallidum --> STI

What are the features of primary syphilis infection?

Chancre --> painful ulcer at site of entry

What are the features of secondary syphilis?

Red rash all over body --> prominent on soles and palms | Mucous membrane 'snail track' ulcers

How is syphilis diagnosed?

Blood test or swab of ulcer for PCR

What is the treatment for syphilis?

IM penicillin

What are the features of tertiary syphilis?

Can affect any system e.g. CNS, cardiovascular, gummatous

Skin Infections Flashcards

(55 cards)