The skin provides a remarkably good barrier against bacterial infections. Although many bacteria come into contact with or reside on the skin, they usually do not cause an infection. When bacterial skin infections occur, they can range in size from a small spot to spots or sores all over the body surface. They can also vary in severity, from harmless to life-threatening.
Bacterial skin infections develop when bacteria enter through the hair follicles or through small breaks in the skin as a result of scratches, punctures, surgery, burns, sunburn, animal or insect bites, wounds and pre-existing skin conditions. People can develop bacterial skin infections after taking part in a number of activities, for example gardening in contaminated soil or swimming in a contaminated pond, lake or sea.
Classification of bacterial skin infections
Some infections only involve the skin, and others also involve the soft tissue beneath the skin. Relatively minor infections include:
More serious bacterial skin and skin structure infections include:
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, scarlet feverand toxic shock syndrome are skin-related complications of bacterial infections.
Causes of bacterial skin infections
Many types of bacteria can infect the skin. The most common are Staphylococcus and Streptococci.
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (also known as MRSA) is a common bacteria that causes skin infections in the United States. MRSA is resistant to many commonly used antibiotics because it has undergone genetic changes that allow it to survive despite exposure to some antibiotics. Because MRSA is resistant to several antibiotics that used to kill it, doctors tailor their treatment based on how often MRSA is found in the local area and whether it has been found to be resistant to commonly used antibiotics.
Risk factors for bacterial skin infections
Some people are at particular risk of developing skin infections:
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People with diabetes, who are likely to have poor blood flow (especially to the hands and feet), have high levels of sugar (glucose) in their blood, which reduces their ability to fight infection
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People who are hospitalized or live in nursing homes
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People who are older
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People who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), AIDS or other immune disorders or hepatitis
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People undergoing chemotherapy or treatment with other drugs that suppress the immune system
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Children under 5 years of age
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Adults over 85 years of age
Skin that is inflamed or damaged is more likely to become infected. In fact, any break in the skin predisposes a person to infection.
Children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 85 have a particularly higher risk of developing a bacterial skin infection.
Treatment of bacterial skin infections
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Antibiotics
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Drainage of abscesses
Doctors prescribe an antibiotic ointment for minor skin infections. They prescribe antibiotics taken by mouth (oral) or given through a vein (intravenous) if a large area of skin is infected.
Abscesses are often cut open (incised) by doctors and allowed to drain, and they surgically remove all dead tissue.
Prevention of bacterial skin infections
Prevention of bacterial skin infections involves keeping the skin undamaged and clean. When the skin is cut or scraped, the injury should be washed with soap and water and covered with a sterile bandage.
Vaseline can be applied to areas where small wounds are open or where the skin has peeled off to keep the tissue moist and to try to keep bacteria out. Doctors recommend that people do not use antibiotic ointments (prescription or non-prescription) on uninfected minor wounds due to the risk of developing an allergy to antibiotics.
