Microbial Diseases and Skin Defenses Quiz

Microbial Diseases of Skin and Eye: Key Points

• The skin has natural defenses such as keratin, sebum, sweat, and mucous membranes, which protect against microbial invasion.
• Normal skin flora includes Cutibacterium acnes, Corynebacterium sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococci sp., Candida albicans, and others.
• Exanthem refers to a skin rash from another infection focus, while enanthem is a mucous membrane rash from another infection focus.
• Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are common causes of skin-related bacterial diseases.
• Staphylococci are spherical Gram-positive bacteria that form irregular clusters and can become pathogenic when the skin barrier is compromised.
• Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common skin microbe, often pathogenic when the skin barrier is breached by medical procedures.
• Staphylococcus aureus, a common resident in nasal passages, is the most pathogenic of the staphylococci and forms golden-yellow colonies.
• Streptococci are also frequent causes of skin-related diseases.
• Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria can cause skin rashes and mucous membrane infections.
• Staphylococci are often pathogenic when the skin barrier is broken or invaded by medical procedures.
• Staphylococcus aureus is a permanent resident in the nasal passages of 20% of the population and occasionally in an additional 60%.
• Staphylococcus aureus is most pathogenic of the staphylococci and typically forms golden-yellow colonies.