13 Questions
Which specimens are preferred by laboratories for diagnosing skin infections?
Surgically obtained tissue samples
What is the recommended treatment for Staphylococcus aureus?
Vancomycin
What does MRSA stand for?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Which terminology corresponds to vancomycin-resistant enterococci?
VRE
What does ESBL refer to?
Extended spectrum β-lactamase
Which organism is most commonly associated with the development of boils?
Staphylococcus aureus
What condition is typically caused by Propionibacterium acnes?
Acne
Which sample type is preferred for laboratory diagnosis of skin infections?
Tissue biopsy
Which type of skin infection is described as an interconnected cluster of boils?
Carbuncles
What is a typical treatment for Staphylococcus aureus skin infections?
Vancomycin
Which of the following is NOT commonly associated with acne formation?
Interconnected boils
Which type of skin infection involves a collection of pus within a cavity?
Abscesses
Candida albicans is most commonly responsible for causing which condition in immunocompromised patients?
Folliculitis
Study Notes
Skin Infections
- Candida albicans causes folliculitis, particularly in immunocompromised hosts.
Types of Skin Infections
- Abscesses: collections of pus in a cavity, typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
- Boils: develop from a previous follicular infection, a deep folliculitis, most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
- Carbuncles: interconnected boils arising in a cluster of hair follicles or a collection of furuncles in the dermis and subcutaneous tissues.
Acne
- Caused by Propionibacterium acnes.
- Occurs with hormonal changes of puberty, leading to increased sebum production and keratinization in pilosebaceous ducts.
- P. acnes breaks down sebum to form fatty acids and peptides, causing inflammation.
Pathogenesis of Acne
- Pilosebaceous ducts become blocked, forming sacs where P. acnes and other microorganisms multiply.
- Enzymes and substances released from bacteria and neutrophils contribute to inflammation.
Laboratory Diagnosis
- Specimens collected include tissue biopsies, aspirations, swabs of abscesses, wound swabs, and materials from surgical debridement drainage samples.
- Laboratories prefer surgically obtained tissue samples, aspirate of closed abscesses, and an aliquot of pus or fluid over swab samples.
Treatment
- Streptococcus: treated with Penicillin.
- Staphylococcus aureus: treated with Vancomycin.
Antibiotic Resistance
- MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
- MSSA: methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.
- VRE: vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
- VISA: vancomycin intermediate resistance Staphylococcus aureus.
- VRSA & VRSE: vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
- ESBL: extended spectrum β-lactamase.
- PRSP: penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.
This quiz covers various types of skin infections, including abscesses, boils, and carbuncles, as well as their underlying causes such as Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. Test your knowledge of skin infections and their symptoms.
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