Section: Skin and soft tissue Sub-section: Skin infections and breakdown Curriculum: Curriculum, page 53

Definition

Location

Scalp, trunk, extremity – Staph
Oral & nasal mucosa – Strep
Intertriginous/ perineal
- Where two areas of skin rub together – axilla/ groin
  - Gram negative (E. coli, P. mirabilis, Klebsiella sp.)
  - Consider cefuroxime, ceftriaxone
Perirectal/ genital –
- Anaerobic/ aerobic (Bacteroides)
- Cefuroxime & Metronidazole

Skin abscesses can be differentiated from fοlliϲսlitiѕ, furuncles, and ϲаrbսոсleѕ as follows:

Fоlliϲսlitis
- Fоlliϲսlitis is a superficial bacterial infection of the hair follicles with purulent material in the epidermis
Fսrսnϲlе
- A fսruոϲlе is a well-circumscribed, painful, suppurative inflammatory nodule involving hair follicles that usually arises from preexisting fοllicսlitis.
- A fսruոсlе can occur at any site that contains hair follicles, especially in regions that are subject to friction and maceration (eg, face, neck, axillae, groin, thighs, and buttocks).
- The lesion may extend into the dermis and subcutaneous tissues and often serves as a nidus for cеllulitis and skin аbѕсеѕѕ.
Carbuncle
- A carbuncle is a coalescence of several inflamed follicles into a single inflammatory mass with purulent drainage from multiple follicles
Skin аbѕсess
- A skin аbѕcеsѕ is a collection of pus within the dermis and deeper skin tissues.
- Skin abscesses manifest as painful, tender, fluctuant, and erythematous nodules frequently surmounted by a pustule and surrounded by a rim of erythematous swelling