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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT a nonspecific defense mechanism of normal skin?
What is the primary cause of death in burn patients?
What factor contributes to the acidic pH of the skin?
Which condition is NOT listed as predisposing to skin invasion due to excessive moisture?
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Which of the following can lead to skin necrosis and secondary infections?
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Which organism is associated with immersion infections in soldiers?
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Which defenses prevent bacteria from colonizing in normal skin?
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Which condition can compromise blood supply and predispose skin to infections?
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Study Notes
Defenses of Skin and Soft Tissue
- Skin is an important anatomic barrier, preventing bacteria and viruses from penetrating intact skin.
- Nonspecific defenses of normal skin include exfoliation, dryness, acidic pH (5.5), low temperature (33°C), sweat glands, inhibition by sebum, and normal bacterial flora.
Conditions That Predispose to Skin Invasion
- Excessive moisture increases the risk of skin invasion, and can be caused by:
- Dressings
- Wet diapers
- Obesity (intertriginous folds)
- Immersion infections (e.g. in swamps)
- Bathing in inadequately chlorinated hot tubs (Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
- Trauma can also predispose to skin invasion, including:
- Mild trauma (e.g. hangnail, cracks in skin)
- Major trauma (e.g. surgery, gunshot wounds, crush injuries, burns, iatrogenic injuries)
- Bed sores (due to pressure)
- Conditions that compromise blood supply, such as diabetes, can also increase the risk of skin invasion.
Microbial Disease of the Skin
- Microbial disease of the skin can result from three lines of attack:
- Exogenous infections (breaching the skin from the outside)
- Invasion of keratinized epithelium (e.g. dermatophytic fungi, invading keratinized structures of the body)
- Invasion of epidermis (e.g. viral warts, caused by human papilloma viruses, with over 200 genotypes)
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Description
Learn about the importance of skin as a barrier against bacteria and viruses, and the conditions that can increase the risk of skin invasion.
