Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Number of Conditions: 3
Necrotizing Fasciitis
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Infectious Diseases
Sub-category: Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Symptoms:
severe pain at the site of infection; rapidly spreading redness and swelling; skin discoloration; blistering; fever; chills; fatigue; low blood pressure; sepsis
Root Cause:
Rapidly progressing bacterial infection caused by bacteria such as Group A Streptococcus, Clostridium, or Vibrio vulnificus, which destroys soft tissues and fascia.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, imaging studies (MRI or CT), blood tests indicating infection, and surgical exploration for definitive diagnosis.
Treatment:
Immediate surgical debridement to remove dead tissue, aggressive antibiotic therapy, and supportive care in an intensive care unit (ICU).
Medications:
Broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics such as piperacillin-tazobactam (a beta-lactam), clindamycin (a lincosamide), and vancomycin (a glycopeptide) to cover multiple pathogens.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; approximately 0.4 cases per 100,000 people annually in developed countries.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
diabetes; immunosuppression; recent surgery; trauma; intravenous drug use; peripheral vascular disease
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Mortality rate is 20-40%, depending on the speed of diagnosis and treatment. Early intervention significantly improves outcomes.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Septic shock, organ failure, amputation, and death.
Abscesses
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Infectious Diseases
Sub-category: Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Symptoms:
localized swelling; redness; pain or tenderness; warmth; pus drainage; fever (in severe cases); fluctuant mass under the skin
Root Cause:
Localized bacterial infection leading to the formation of a pus-filled cavity, often caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant strains).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, ultrasound imaging for deep abscesses, and sometimes culture of pus to identify bacteria and guide antibiotic therapy.
Treatment:
Incision and drainage (I&D) of the abscess is the primary treatment, with antibiotics prescribed in cases of severe infection or systemic involvement.
Medications:
Oral antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (a sulfonamide), doxycycline (a tetracycline ), or clindamycin (a lincosamide), particularly for MRSA coverage.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common; skin abscesses account for a significant proportion of emergency department visits related to skin infections.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
poor hygiene; skin trauma; immunosuppression; diabetes; chronic skin conditions such as eczema or acne
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with proper treatment, though recurrence can occur, especially without addressing underlying risk factors.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cellulitis, bacteremia, sepsis, and scarring.
Staphylococcal Infections
Specialty: Infectious Diseases
Category: Bacterial Infections
Sub-category: Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Symptoms:
skin abscesses; boils; cellulitis; fever; chills; shortness of breath in systemic cases; sepsis
Root Cause:
Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus or other Staphylococcus species, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant strains).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Culture of blood, wound, or affected tissues; imaging for systemic infections.
Treatment:
Drainage of abscesses, antibiotic therapy tailored to sensitivity testing.
Medications:
Penicillinase-resistant penicillins (e.g., nafcillin ), cephalosporins, or MRSA-active antibiotics (e.g., vancomycin , daptomycin , or linezolid ).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common globally; community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections are significant health concerns.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Open wounds, surgical procedures, immune suppression, diabetes, hospital stays, and invasive devices like catheters.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good with early treatment; however, MRSA strains pose a higher risk of severe complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Sepsis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and toxic shock syndrome.