10th Class Skin Infections

Which type of specimen collection is preferred by laboratories for diagnosing skin infections?

Which antibiotic is used to treat infections caused by Streptococcus?

What does MRSA stand for?

What is the preferred treatment for Staphylococcus aureus infections?

Which of the following organisms is resistant to vancomycin?

Which organism is primarily responsible for causing abscesses?

What commonly results from a previous follicular infection leading to deep folliculitis?

Which type of infection involves interconnected boils arising in a cluster of hair follicles?

Which bacterium is responsible for acne through the breakdown of sebum?

Which type of sample do laboratories prefer for diagnosing skin infections over swab samples?

What treatment is typically given for infections caused by Streptococcus?

Which of the following conditions is characterized by blocked pilosebaceous ducts turning into sacs?

Which factor is NOT involved in the development of acne?

Skin Infections

Laboratory Diagnosis

Tissue biopsy, aspiration, swabs of abscesses, wound swabs, and materials from surgical debridement drainage samples are used for specimen collection.
Laboratories prefer surgically obtained tissue samples, aspirate of closed abscesses, and an aliquot of pus or fluid rather than swab samples.

Treatment

Streptococcus infections are treated with penicillin.
Staphylococcus aureus infections are treated with Vancomycin.

Antibiotic Resistance Terminologies

MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
MSSA: methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.
VRE: vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
VISA: vancomycin intermediate resistance S. aureus.
VRSA & VRSE: vancomycin-resistant S. aureus and S. epidermidis.
ESBL: Extended spectrum β-lactamase.
PRSP: penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae.

Folliculitis can be caused by Candida albicans, particularly in immunocompromised hosts.
Abscesses are localized collections of pus in a cavity, often caused by S. aureus.
Boils (furuncles) are deep folliculitis, most commonly caused by S. aureus.
Carbuncles are interconnected boils arising in a cluster of hair follicles, often found on the nape of the neck and back.

Acne

Acne is caused by Propionibacterium acnes.
It occurs during puberty due to hormonal changes, leading to increased sebum production, keratinization, and desquamation in pilosebaceous ducts.
P. acnes breaks down sebum to form fatty acids and peptides, causing inflammation.

This quiz covers the laboratory diagnosis and treatment of skin infections, including specimen collection and antibiotic therapies for specific bacterial causes.