• Normal Microflora
• Conditions differ by location.
• Skin secretions are food for microbes.
- Fatty acids (pH 5.5) are the result.
- They don’t smell good. (Body odor)
• Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and coryneform (club-shaped) bacteria are common.
• Mites such as Desmodex mites.
- not considered normal microflora
• Diseases of the Skin
• Very few microbes can penetrate intact skin.
• Skin infections are usually a result of barrier breach.
• Diagnosis by appearance and clinical history.
• Staphylococcal & Streptococcal Infections: pretty common
• Staphylococcal
• MRSA: Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus
- spread by nasal droplets
- Contain SCC mecA
• Streptococcal
• Scarlet fever
- carries 3 different toxins, body can form antibodies against it
- Gram positive
• Erysipelas: Saint Anthony’s Fire
- red skin
- Patron saint of lost things: Brain is missing: Saint Anthony suffered from Ergotism has
similar symptoms, from an intoxication of ingesting moldy grain
- Group A streptococcus
- Surface of the skin
- Clear ending place
- 18-30% reinfection because those people are immunosuppressed
- Can become chronic if you have bad circulation, uncontrolled diabetes
- Trt: Oral antibiotics, IV
- Common in obese persons
• Burn Infections
Eschar: after molten-metal burn
- like a scab
80% of burn victim deaths are a result of infection
Case Study: 35 yr old. man involved in house fire, skin is thick and leathery, eschar of
full-thickness (3rd) degree burn
- Escharotomy: dead tissue must be sliced so body can expand and continue circulation in
tissue
- Leave the skin on though because it acts as a barrier to infection
Debridement: placing antibiotics on it and bandaging
• Conditions differ by location.
• Skin secretions are food for microbes.
- Fatty acids (pH 5.5) are the result.
- They don’t smell good. (Body odor)
• Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and coryneform (club-shaped) bacteria are common.
• Mites such as Desmodex mites.
- not considered normal microflora
• Diseases of the Skin
• Very few microbes can penetrate intact skin.
• Skin infections are usually a result of barrier breach.
• Diagnosis by appearance and clinical history.
• Staphylococcal & Streptococcal Infections: pretty common
• Staphylococcal
• MRSA: Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus
- spread by nasal droplets
- Contain SCC mecA
• Streptococcal
• Scarlet fever
- carries 3 different toxins, body can form antibodies against it
- Gram positive
• Erysipelas: Saint Anthony’s Fire
- red skin
- Patron saint of lost things: Brain is missing: Saint Anthony suffered from Ergotism has
similar symptoms, from an intoxication of ingesting moldy grain
- Group A streptococcus
- Surface of the skin
- Clear ending place
- 18-30% reinfection because those people are immunosuppressed
- Can become chronic if you have bad circulation, uncontrolled diabetes
- Trt: Oral antibiotics, IV
- Common in obese persons
• Burn Infections
Eschar: after molten-metal burn
- like a scab
80% of burn victim deaths are a result of infection
Case Study: 35 yr old. man involved in house fire, skin is thick and leathery, eschar of
full-thickness (3rd) degree burn
- Escharotomy: dead tissue must be sliced so body can expand and continue circulation in
tissue
- Leave the skin on though because it acts as a barrier to infection
Debridement: placing antibiotics on it and bandaging
