Impetigo
Impetigo is a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus and/or Staphylococcus organisms. Both staphylococcus and streptococcus are part of the normal flora found on human skin, but given the opportunity they can become pathogenic. Streptococcus is a spherical bacterium that is arranged into chains. It is Gram positive and catalase negative. Group A Streptococcus (GAS), such as Streptococcus pyogenes, are responsible for most cases of streptococcal infections. The letter A is part of a classification system that separates streptococcal organisms according to the composition of the cell wall. Other illnesses associated with GAS are "strep throat", necrotizing fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (4,9).
Staphylococcus is arranged into clusters of spherical bacteria. They are Gram positive and catalase positive. Staphylococcus bacteria are classified into two major groups, aureus and non-aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is another organism that causes impetigo. It is distinguished from other species by a positive result in a coagulase test. Staphylococcus aureus is also associated with soft tissue infection as well as toxic shock syndrome and has been found to be the causative agent in pneumonia, boils, arthritis, meningitis and osteomyelitis. The pathogenic abilities of Staphylococcus are most commonly associated with the toxins it produces in the stationary phase of the bacterial growth curve (2).
Impetigo involves an infection of the superficial, top layers, of the skin. It is characterized by the development of red blisters that start to rupture and ooze fluid. A yellowish or honey colored crust then develops. It usually effects the face, hands,...
... middle of paper ...
...he long term prognosis is excellent. As for current research I have not come across any sites that told of any work being done. This is probably due to the high cure rate and the fact that impetigo is usually not a life threatening disease.
Bibliography:
Reference List
1. http://hna.ffh.vic.gov.au/phb/hprot/inf_dis/bluebook/impetigo/htm
2. http://medic.med.uth.tmc.edu/path/00001456.htm
3. http://www.capederm.com/info_impetigo.htm
4. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/groupastreptococcal_g.htm
5. http://www.drugbase.co.za/data/med_info/impetigo.htm
6. http://www.healthanswers.com/adam/top/view.asp?filenam=000860.htm&rdir
7. http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/epi/epiimpet.htm
8. http://www.lambtonhealth.on.ca.cdci/commonchart.htm
9. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/strep.htm
10. http://www.paaap.org/ecels/fact/impetigo.htm
Another condition associated with the integumentary system is impetigo. This skin condition is mostly seen in children. This condition of the skin is very easy to diagnose and is usually done with the doctor just looking at the patients affected area. The doctor may take a piece of the sore and send it to a lab to get a clearer diagnosis of impetigo.. impetigo ia contagious and can be spread by sharing towels and close contact. It also can be spread by scratching. The symptoms of impetigo are small red bumps around the mouth and nose area. Blisters and crusty sores are also symptoms. The treatment for impetigo is antibiotics. In a mild case of impetigo antibiotic ointment or cream is prescribed. In severe cases the doctor prescribes antibiotic pills to the patient.
Streptococcus pyogenes is thought to live benignly within one in five people, and is thusly one of the most common pathogens among humans. Due to its common
Streptococci can be separated into groups by a polysaccharide antigen that is deep inside the cell wall. The groups are labeled by the letters ranging from A to R, each group represents a different type of organism that it mostly infects. Group A is mainly pathogenic to humans, while group B is found in cattle. Groups C to R infect animals of lesser complexity. Streptococcus pyogenes is part of group A, which means that the polysaccharide antigen is composed of rhamnose and N-acetylglucosamine and its main host is in humans.
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to treatment by typical antibiotics. The most common kind is hospital-acquired (HAI), nosocomial, or healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). People who undergo invasive medical procedures, who have compromised immune systems, or are being treated in patient care settings are most at risk for this infection. (CDC 2013)
Even though S. aureus is mainly associated with food poisoning, the bacterium can penetrate the skin or other mucous membranes to invade a range of tissues which will cause a variety of infections. Superficial infection of the skin can cause boils, impetigo, styes (infection of the glands or hair follicles of the eyelids), folliculitis, and furnacles. All of these infections are charac...
Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection characterized by the eruptions of superficial pustules and formation of thick yellow crusty sores. It is highly contagious and can occur anywhere on the body, especially in exposed areas. The two different types of Impetigo are Bullous Impetigo, which are large blisters, and Non-Bullous Impetigo, which are crusted over blisters. Non-Bullous Impetigo is the most common type. Both types require contact precautions because they can be transmitted via physical contact with anyone who has it, sharing the same clothes, bedding, towels, etc... Because of the way young children proceed with their lifestyles, touching everything within their reach, the primary age groups targeted with this infection are, in fact, young children. It is most common on their facial area, mainly around their noses and mouths, but sometimes impetigo will appear on their arms and legs.
Pathophysiology of infection, inflammation response, and sepsis leading to septic shock (the cascade) is a major area of interest in the literature. Under normal circumstances, when a pathogen enters a human host and tissue damage occurs, the host initiates an inflammatory response to repair the tissue. The main types of pathogens include viruses, bacteria, and parasites (Porth & Matfin, 2009; Raghavan & Marik, 2006). Cellulitis is an example of an acute infection, which affects the skin and or subcutaneous tissue often in lower limbs. Cellulitis is caused by streptococcus pyogenes and staphylococcus aureus (multi-resistant bacteria) and is transmitted by direct contact, entering the body via broken skin such as ulcers and or following trauma. The presentation of cellulitis often includes pain (localised), erythema, fever and swelling. Infections such as cellulitis have a propensity to become systemic through distribution in the blood and lymph (Hadzovic-Cengic et al., 2012). The inflammation response to an infection involves the release of both pro and anti-inflammatory mediators. When excessive pro-inflammatory mediators such as cytokines are released they cause inflammation in a systemic manner that can cause sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (being the non-specific response to non-infectious cause) (Sagy, Al-Qaqaa, & Kim, 2013). Pro-inflammatory mediators also activate the complement system, which results in increased inflammation and upregulation of specific receptors that lead to cellular injury and apoptosis seen in severe sepsis and organ dysfunction (Ward, 2008). Organ dysfunction can occur in one or more organs such as the lungs, liver, kidneys and or heart and often results from a lack of...
Cellulitis is an acute spreading bacterial infection of the connective tissue, dermis and subcutaneous layers of the skin (ProQuest 07/2012 pg.5). Characterized by redness, swelling, warmth, tight/shiny skin and pain. It is sometimes accompanied by fever, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue. Cellulitis first appears on pink-to-red minimally inflamed skin. The area of infection rapidly becomes deeper red and increases in size as the infection spreads. Occasionally, red streaks may radiate outward from cellulitis. Blisters or pus filled bumps may also be present (skinsight 12/2012 pg.5). The main culprit is the bacteria Streptococcus and Staphylococcus which can enter through a break in the skin.
Impetigo is caused mainly by staphylococcus aurues, which is a chain of globular bacteria (Cronana, Bacteria). There are three forms of Impetigo: Bullous, Non-Bullous or Contagiosa, and Ecthyma, Bullous Impetigo is causes large blisters on the skin that start out as a clear blister then normally turn cloudy, this type of blister stays intact longer on the skin then the other forms of impetigo. Non-Bullous or Contagiosa starts as tiny blisters, as time goes on these blister burst leaving a red, wet patch of skin, after fluid leaks from the blister they crust over leaving the surface a tan to yellowish color, “like it has been coated with brown sugar or honey”(Cronan). Ecthyma penetrates deeper into the skin, down to the dermis layer of skin which is the second layer. Ecthyma is very painful pus filled sores that eventually turn into deep ulcers on the skin. Once the sores break open, they scab over with a very thick hard gray-yellowish crust. Scars may remain even after the sore, or ulcers heal. Ecthyma can cause swollen lymph glands(Staff). The Non-Bullous or Contagoisa is the most common form of Impetigo (Cronan, Staff).
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection. This condition is more frequently in young children but can also affect adults. There are two forms of impetigo non-bollous impetigo and bullous impetigo. Non-bollous impetigo is more commonly seen and is caused by staphylococcus and streptococcus bacterium entering the body through skin breaks. This will initially cause the formation of red papules – these could easily be mistaken as insect bites. Over the next several days the papules begin to form into vesicles, then pustules before crusting over. Generally the breakout will occur near the mouth and nose – due to the tendency of skin breakdown from nasal drainage however breakouts can also be seen on the arms and legs. The more atypical bullous impetigo is caused by the staphylococcus bacteria, they produce a toxin which breaks down the adhesion between the epidermal and dermis skin layers cause bullae. Bullae can appear on numerous areas of the body but especially on the trunk and buttock areas.
Two recent outbreaks of Golden Staph (S. aureus) have occured that appear unrelated, but were identified as being the same strain of CA-MRSA (Community-Acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
Staphylococcus aureus, aka, Golden Staph because of its colour on the laboratory plate. It is a bacteria that is normally harmless to the skin, can sometimes cause minor infections and boils etc. This bacteria is slowly becoming more resistant to the most powerful antibiotics. 20 – 40% of all Golden Staph are resistant to the antibiotic. Only 5% of those bacteria can be treated with vancomycin which is the last line of defence and isn’t looking too good anymore. Golden Staph is a type of superbug. Superbugs are strains of bacteria that are resistant to overused antibiotics as they have mutated after being in contact with antibiotics. Therefore the antibiotics can't kill the superbug anymore. Around half antibiotic intake is unnecessary in Australia.
While sitting around your house, watching television, you notice that you have been scratching your arm and in between your fingers for a little while. After taking a closer look you notice something that you assume is a rash and just ignore it. The next day however you notice that the rash has spread and that you think you see burrows in your skin. Then it hits you, the weekend that you spent away on vacation in that not so expensive hotel to save a couple of dollars has now cost you more money in the long run. You must go see your doctor to be treated for scabies!
Streptococcal pharyngitis (colloquially known as strep throat) is an infection caused by a Streptococcus pyogenes bacterium, which also forms a category called Group A Beta Hemolytic Strep (GABHS). They are responsible for various diseases, however strep throat is the most epidemic. S. pyogenes is the causative agent of over 10 million of skin and throat infections reported every year.
Impetigo is a skin infection that occurs in young children ages 2-6, which is why it is called school sores. It characterized as a highly contagious bacterial infection. Children account for 70% of all cases of impetigo. It is most common in closed areas such as schools, daycares, and barracks. Impetigo can be caused by Group A streptococcus and can sometimes occur in adults who have skin conditions such as eczema. Conditions that also cause impetigo include chickenpox, insect bites, burns, dermatitis, low immune system, or diabetes. Impetigo can be contacted from to skin-to-skin. Also touching items another person with it has touched and poor hygiene. There are 3 different types of impetigo: impetigo contagiosa, bullous impetigo, and ecythma.