Skin & Soft Tissue

Impetigo Caused by...

Caused by Group A Streptococcus (S. pyogenes), Staphylococcus aureus

Impetigo Clinical

Vesicles that rupture and result in honey colored crusting

Impetigo Treatment

Penicillin, topical mupirocin

Erysipelas Caused by...

Group A streptococcus
Intradermal infection with lymphatic involvement

Erysipelas Clinical

Well demarcated erythematous patch, with edema, pain, fever
Face and legs most common sites
Rapidly spreading

Erythrasma Caused by...

Corynebacterium minutissimum

Erythrasma Clinical

-well-demarcated, brown-red macular patches of inner thighs, crural region,
scrotum
-toe web lesions appear as maceration

Erythrasma Diagnosis

Skin culture
Wood's lamp: Coral-red fluorescence

Cellulitis Caused by:

-S. aureus and S. pyogenes most commonly
-Haemophilus influenza in young children with facial cellulitis
-S. aureus, Enterobactericeae and anaerobes in diabetics and debilitated patients

Cellulitis Clinical

-subcutaneous tissue with redness, warmth, induration, pain, fever
-red streaking is characteristic of ascending lymphangitis

Folliculitis Caused by...

-physical or chemical irritation or infection
-Staphylococcus aureus
-Pseudomonas aeruginosa: associated with hot tubs
Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis: associated with HIV, sterile pustules
Pityrosporum ovale: caused by a yeast
Gram-negative folliculit

Folliculitis Clinical

-Inflammation of hair follicles
-Seen in areas of friction

Folliculitis Diagnosis

-cultures, Gram stain, potassium hydroxide (KOH) prep (for yeast and fungus), and biopsy

Folliculitis Treatment

-Topical or oral antibiotics
-Topical or oral antifungals
-Topical steroids

Furuncle Caused by...

-Staphylococcus aureus most commonly
-Infection involving an entire hair follicle and the adjacent subcutaneous tissue

Furuncle Clinical

-tender, red, subcutaneous nodule
-becomes fluctuant (like a water-filled balloon)
-may drain spontaneously with pus

Furuncle Treatment

-Drainage
-Dicloxacillin or nafcillin

Carbuncle Caused by...

-Staphylococcus aureus most commonly
-Furuncles that develop close together, expand and join

Carbuncle Clinical

-multiloculated (multiple cavities) subcutaneous nodules
-appear in areas of friction or minor trauma
-may ooze pus

Carbuncle Treatment

-drainage
-dicloxacillin or nafcillin

Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

-Bullous Impetigo
-Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
-Rectal Abscess
-Lymphangitis
-Necrotizing fasciitis
-Meningococcal Disease
-Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

Bullous Impetigo Caused by...

S. aureus, Group A streptococcus

Bullous Impetigo Clinical

-Large flaccid blisters (bullae) at site of infection
-Most commonly seen in newborns and children
-Bullae form in response to epidermolytic toxin A produced by S. aureus

Bullous Impetigo Treatment

penicillin

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS) Caused by...

-Epidermolytic toxin A and B (ET-A and ET-B) by Staphylococcus aureus
-Desmoglein 1 (associated with keratinocytes adhesion) target in the skin for the toxins
-Infection from skin, throat, nose, mouth, umbilicus, or GI tract- bacteria not found in
the bul

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS) Clinical

-Bullae: flaccid, ill-defined
-Nikolsky sign (gentle stroking of the skin causes the skin to separate at the
epidermis)
-Sandpaper-like rash
-Perioral crusting
-Widespread desquamation

Perirectal and Perianal Abscesses Caused by...

-aerobic and anaerobic polymicrobial infection of the mucus-secreting anal
glands
-Bacteroides fragilis (most common)
-Escherichia coli, Proteus, Bacteroides, and Streptococcus

Perirectal and Perianal Abscesses Clinical

-Localized collection of pus walled off by deposition of fibrin thrombi
-Indurated fluctuant nodule

Perirectal and Perianal Abscesses Treatment

-Drainage
-Gram (+) and/or gram (-) antibiotics

Lymphangitis Caused by...

-Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) most common
-Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas, or fungal, viral organisms
-Inflammation and infection of lymphatic channels after abrasion, wound, or complication of infection
-Acute or chronic

Lymphangitis - Streptococcal Clinical

-Red linear streaks, extend towards the local lymph nodes

Lymphangitis - Streptococcal Diagnosis

CBC, blood culture

Lymphangitis - Streptococcal Treatment

appropriate oral or IV antimicrobial depending on the organism

Necrotizing Fasciitis Caused by...

-type I, or polymicrobial
-type II, or Group A streptococcal
-type III gas gangrene, or clostridial myonecrosis
-Deep infection that spreads rapidly through muscle plains
-Destruction of muscles, vasculature, nerves

Necrotizing Fasciitis Diagnosis...

-WBC count
-blood culture
-contrast-enhanced CT
-skin biopsy for culture

Necrotizing Fasciitis Treatment

-antibiotic coverage
-immediate surgical debridement

Meningococcal Disease Caused by...

-Neisseria meningitidis
-Carried in nasopharynx
-Transmitted via respiratory secretions
-3 clinical syndromes can occur:
� acute meningococcemia
� meningitis
� chronic meningococcemia

Acute Meningococcemia Clinical

-Cutaneous lesions
� petechiae
� stellate purpura
-small, irregular, smudged appearance; raised with pale grayish vesicular
centers
� hemorrhagic bullae
-Other findings:
� fever
� meningitis: neck stiffness, headache
� septic or sterile (immune complex) a

Meningococcal Disease Diagnosis

-increased CSF protein
-leukocytosis
-positive CSF and blood cultures

Meningococcal Disease Treatment

-penicillin G
-third-generation cephalosporins
-vaccine for high-risk groups

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) Caused by toxins of...

-Caused by toxins of:
� 1) S. aureus
� 2) Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (S. pyogenes)

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) Clinical

-Fever
-Rash
-Hypotension
-Constitutional symptoms
-Multi-organ involvement

Streptococcal TSS vs Staphylococcal TSS

Staphylococcal TSS Diagnosis

-Involvement of 3 or more organ systems:
� Gastrointestinal - vomiting or diarrhea
� Muscular - myalgias
� Hepatic - decreased liver function
� Renal - raised urea or creatinine levels
� Hematologic - thrombocytopenia with bruising
� Central nervous syste

Streptococcal TSS Diagnosis

-Isolation of Group A streptococcus from:
� Normally sterile sites: blood, cerebrospinal fluid [CSF], surgical wounds
� Non-sterile sites: throat, vagina, sputum
-Hypotension
� systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg
-Involvement of 2 or more organ systems:
� R

Toxic Shock Syndrome - Treatment

-Nafcillin
-Clindamycin
-Erythromycin

Tinea Versicolor

-Benign, superficial cutaneous fungal infection
-Hypopigmented or hyperpigmented macules and patches on the chest and back
-Caused by Pityrosporum orbiculare or P. ovale (Malassezia furfur)

Tinea Versicolor: Diagnosis

-Ultraviolet (Wood's) light - coppery-orange fluorescence
-Potassium hydroxide (KOH) - "cigar-butt" hyphae, spores with short mycelium; "spaghetti and meatballs" or "bacon and eggs

Tinea Versicolor: Treatment

-Topical agents:
-Selenium sulfide - daily for 2 weeks; at least 10 minutes prior to being washed off
-Azole, ciclopiroxolamine, and allylamine antifungals - every night for 2 weeks

Tinea Capitis

-Superficial fungal infection of the scalp
-Propensity for attacking hair shafts and follicles
-Scaly erythematous lesions and hair loss
-In the US:
-Trichophyton tonsurans has replaced Microsporum audouinii and M. canis as the most common cause

Tinea Capitis: Treatment

-Griseofulvin
-20 - 25 mg/kg/d for 6 - 8 weeks
-Accumulates in keratin of hair and nails, rendering them resistant to invasion by the fungus
-Fatty meals increase absorption

Tinea Corporis

-Superficial dermatophyte infection
-Pruritic annular erythematous scaly patch with central clearing
-Majocchi's granuloma: granulomatous reaction; fungal hyphae invade hairs and hair
follicles
-Potassium hydroxide (KOH): septate branching hyphae

Tinea Corporis: Treatment

-Topical agents
-Azole, ciclopiroxolamine, and allylamine antifungals
-Every night for 2 weeks
-Systemic therapy
-For Majocchi's

Tinea Pedis

-Most common presentation: "moccasin" distribution
-Erythema with scale extending to sides of feet
-Trichophyton rubrum most common cause

Tinea Unguium: Onychomycosia

-Most common presentation: distal subungual
-Thickening of nails
-Subungual debris
-Yellow discoloration
-Most commonly due to Trichophyton rubrum

Molluscum Contagiosum

-Cutaneous infection caused by a large DNA poxvirus that affects both children and adults

Molluscum Contagiosum Transmission:

-Direct skin contact
-Autoinoculation
-Flesh-colored, white, translucent, or even yellow in color
-Number of lesions: from 1 - 20 up to hundreds
-Diagnosis made on clinical grounds

Molluscum Contagiosum - Treatment

-Cantharidin
-Tretinoin - cream 0.1% or gel 0.025% daily
-Podophyllin
-Trichloracetic acid
-Silver nitrate or phenol
-Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen
-Aldara 5% cream
-Salicylic acid

Human Papillomavirus: Verruca

-Many serotypes
-Can lead to various presentations of warts
-Verruca vulgaris (common warts):
-Due to HPV types 2 and 4
-Verrucous papules
-Can koebnerize (spread after trauma)

Herpes Simplex

-Type I: 90% orofacial, 10% genital, Vesicular lesions on oral mucosa, tongue, and lips; Later rupture, resulting in ulcer; Can recur, usually in the same location, due to reactivation along sensory root
ganglion
Type II: Primary genital herpes, Cervical

Varicella Zoster Virus: Chickenpox

-VZV remains dormant in the sensory roots after primary infection
-Transmitted from the skin and respiratory tract
-Incubation for 2 weeks
-Lesions: "dewdrops on a rose petal"; begin on the face, scalp, and trunk with sparing of the extremities

Herpes Zoster

-Due to reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus in sensory ganglion -Vesicles present in a dermatomal distribution: follow sensory nerves
-Can result in post-herpetic neuralgia