Skin Infections

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Skin Infections

• Current Issues in Athletic Training
• Tristen Ollendyke

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What is Staphylococcus?

• Staphylococci are spherical bacteria that occur
  in clusters. Cultures of the nose and skin of
  normal humans yields staphylococci.

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• There are two main types
• Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus
  epidermis
• S. aureus can cause superficial skin lesions such
  as boils, styes, and furuncles, and cause more
  serious infections such as pneumonia, meningitis,
  and urinary tract infections.
• S. epidermis is an inhabitant of the skin

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What is Streptococcus?

• Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most
  frequent pathogens of humans.
• Strep infections are sever invasive infections,
  promoting flesh eating bacteria
• Acute Strep infections may present strep throat,
  impetigo, cellulitis, toxic shock syndrome,
  tonsillitis, otitis, and pneumonia.

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Cellulitis

• Cellulitis is most commonly caused by
  Streptococcus
• Streptococci spread rapidly in the skin because
  they hinder the ability of the tissue to confine
  the infection.

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• Enters through breaks in the skin, such as
  scrapes, burns, and punctures.
• Most commonly develops on the legs, but can occur
  anywhere.

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Signs and Symptoms

• First symptoms are redness, pain and tenderness
  over the area of skin
• Skin becomes swollen and may look slightly pitted
• Fluid filled blisters sometimes appear on the
  skin.

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• People will cellulitis feel only mildly ill, but
  may have fever, chills, headache, and low blood
  pressure.
• As the infection spreads, lymph nodes may become
  enlarged, and sepsis is also possible.

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Treatment

• Antibiotics will cure mild cellulitis, but a
  serious infection will need intravenous
  antibiotics.
• Symptoms usually disappear after a few days, BUT
  symptoms often get worse before they get better
  because with the death of the bacteria,
  substances that cause tissue damage are released,
  causing the body to react even though the
  bacteria are dead.

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Impetigo

• Cause by Strep and Staph
• Ordinary impetigo, which is also called impetigo
  vulgaris and streptococcal impetigo
• Bullous impetigo, which is also called impetigo
  bullosa and staphylococcal impetigo

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Impetigo

• Skin rash characterized by a cluster of blisters
  or red bumps
• Blisters may ooze or be covered with a
  honey-colored crust
• Very Contagious
• Usually starts at the site of a minor injury such
  as a scrape or bite
• Treatment is antibiotics and a topical cream

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Ecthyma

• Similar to impetigo, but more deeply invasive
• Most serious form of Impetigo
• Occurs when the infection penetrates deep into
  the dermis causing painful, itchy sores that
  develop into pus or fluid filled ulcers with hard
  grayish yellow crusts
• May cause permanent scars

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Ecthyma

• May begin as a small blister
• A hard crust thicker than the crust of impetigo
  covers the blister
• Commonly found on the leg
• Antibiotics should be taken, and warm soaks to
  remove crust

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Necrotizing Fasciitis

• Rare bacterial infection that can destroy skin
  and soft tissues beneath including fat and fascia
• Caused by Strep alone
• bacteria can get in the skin from an already
  existing wound, or even weak skin such as a
  bruise or abrasion
• Can only pick up the bacteria from someone who
  has a strep infection, whether they are sick, or
  are just carrying it

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• This a Fatal Infection
• 1500 cases are reported each year by the CDC, and
  20 die from it.

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Signs and Symptoms

• 24 hours
• First sign is pain, starts off feeling like a
  muscle pull, but gets progressively worse
• Flu like symptoms occurs
• Extreme thirst
• Biggest sign is all of these symptoms at the same
  time. In general you will feel worse then you
  have ever felt before, and not understand why.

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• 3-4 Days
• Advanced symptoms Limb begins to swell, purple
  rash, blisters filled with black fluid, may
  appear necrotic with a bluish white flaky
  appearance

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• 4-5 Days
• Critical Symptoms Blood pressue drops, the body
  goes into toxic shock, unconsciousness will occur
  because the body becomes too weak

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Treatment

• IV Antibiotics
• Removal of infected tissue
• Usually requires a skin graft
• Amputation is needed in most cases
• www.nnff.org/

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References

• www.nnff.org/nnff_factsheet.htm
• www.mayoclinic.com
• www.emedicinehealth.com
• www.cdc.gov/