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Skin Infections
Jonathan Bland
Pathophysiology
Professor Lori McGowan

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Bacterial Infections

Causative
Organism
Symptoms

Treatment

Cellulitis
Most common by
streptococci others
can be staph, E. Coli
Tenderness, pain,
swelling, and redness
at the site of infection.

Antibiotic regimens
are effective for 90%
of patients the
smallest abscesses
require drainage for
resolution.

Impetigo
Staphylococcus aureus or
Streptococcus pyogenes

Furuncles
Staphylococcus aureus

The infected areas appear in


plaques ranging from dime to
quarter size, starting as tiny
blisters that break and expose
moist, red skin. After a few days
the infected area is covered with
a grainy, golden crust that
gradually spreads at the edges.
In extreme cases, the infection
invades a deeper layer of skin
and develops into ecthyma, a
deeper form of the disease.
Ecthyma forms small, pus-filled
bumps with a crust much darker
and thicker than that of ordinary
impetigo. Ecthyma can be very
itchy, and scratching the irritated
area spreads the infection
quickly. Left untreated, the sores
may cause permanent scars and
pigment changes (Levine, 2009)
The FDA approved a new
prescription drug to treat
impetigo, named Altabax.

A boil may begin as a tender,


pinkish-red, swollen, firm area
in the skin. Overtime, it will feel
like a water-filled balloon or
cyst (Vorvick, 2010)

Boils may heal on their own


after a period of itching and
mild pain. Sometimes a warm
compress may be used open
and drain before they may heal.
Deeper boils need to be
drained with surgery by health
care provider.

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Causative
Organism

Symptoms

Herpes Simplex
Herpes Simplex
1 and simplex 2

Blisters or
ulcers
Enlarged lymph
nodes
Fever Blisters
Fever
Genital Lesions
Mouth Sores

Herpes zoster
Varicella zoster virus

Warts
Depending on the location of the warts
depends on the causative agents. Human
Papilloma Virus, common warts-verrucae
vulgaris, plantar warts-verrucae plantaris,
fat warts-verrucae plana
The earliest symptoms of
Common warts (verrucae vulgaris): These
herpes zoster, which include common warts typically develop on the
headache, fever, and
hand, especially around the nail. Common
malaise, are nonspecific, and warts are gray to flesh colored, raised from
may result in an incorrect
the skin surface, and covered with rough,
diagnosis. These symptoms hornlike projections.
are commonly followed by
sensations of burning pain,
Plantar warts (verrucae plantaris): Plantar
itching, hyperesthesia
warts , by definition, occur on the plantar
(oversensitivity), or
surface, or bottom, of the foot. They usually
paresthesia ("pins and
occur in high-pressure areas such as the
needles" tingling, pricking, or heel and the metatarsal heads (just behind
numbness)
the toes).Plantar warts usually grow into
the skin, not outward like common warts.
This growing into the skin makes plantar
warts more difficult to treat.
Flat warts (verrucae plana): Flat warts are
most commonly seen on the face and the
back of the hands. They usually appear as
small individual bumps about 1/4 inch
across. Flat warts may spread rapidly on
the face from the activities involved in
shaving. (EmedicineHealth)

Treatment

Anti-viral meds,
Zovirax, Famvir,
Valtrex

Herpes Zoster generally selflimited and resolve without


intervention. Patients at high
risk for disseminated zoster
may benefit from IV
acyclovir.

Most warts disappear 60-70% of the time.


Salicyclic acid therapy, Cryotherapy with
liquid nitrogen, the tape method, place
several layers of waterproof adhesive tape
over the wart region, removing tape after
6.5 days.

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Works Cited
Dugdale, D. C. (2009, May 30). Herpes Simplex. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from PubMed Health:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002300/

EmedicineHealth. (n.d.). Warts. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from Emedicine Health:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/warts/page6_em.htm#Warts%20Treatment

Gould, B. E. (2006). Pathophysiology for the Health Professionals, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: W.B.
Sauders.

Levine, N. M. (2009, March 9). Cellulitis. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/cellulitis-symptoms

Moon, J. E. (2011, Mar 29). Herpes Zoster. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from Medscape reference:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/218683-overview

Vorvick, L. J. (2010, Oct 28). Boils. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from MedlinePlus:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001474.htm

WebMD. (2010, Oct 27). Impetigo. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-impetigo-basics

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