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    Back and Neck Care

    Common Bacterial Skin Infections

    What are common types of bacterial skin infections?

    Below are common bacterial skin infections.

    Infection

    Symptoms

    Treatment

    Erysipelas

    A skin infection most often caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci. This condition often affects the face or legs. In rare cases, it affects an area that was injured or where the skin is cut. Many people have a fever or flu-like symptoms. Symptoms may include:

    • Shiny, red, raised rash

    • Small blisters

    • Enlarged and sore lymph nodes

    Treatment may include:

    • Antibiotics

    Erythrasma

    A bacterial skin infection of the top layers of skin, more common in the tropics. This is caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum bacteria. This condition mainly affects obese adults and people with diabetes. It's often seen on parts of the body where skin touches skin. This includes under the breast and in the groin area. Symptoms may include irregular pink patches that turn into brown scales.

    Treatment may include:

    • Antibiotics put on the skin or taken by mouth

    The infection may return, needing another treatment.

    Impetigo

    A skin infection caused by a streptococcal or staphylococcal infection. Symptoms include pus-filled blisters or pustules. Blisters can range in size from peas to large rings. There is often oozing honey-colored liquid and yellowish scabs. Impetigo tends to occur on the face, arms, or legs. It's most common in children. It's very contagious. But symptoms often don’t affect the whole body.

    In most cases, this is not serious. It responds well to treatment. Getting treatment right away may help prevent impetigo from infecting deeper layers of skin. Treatment often includes antibiotics put on the skin or taken by mouth.

    Paronychia

    A skin infection around a fingernail or toenail. This infection can be caused by a break in the skin from a hangnail, manicure, fingernail biting, or other long-term (chronic) irritation. Symptoms may include:

    • Pain

    • Pus-filled abscess

    Treatment may include:

    • Using hot compresses

    • Soaking in warm water

    • Cutting the abscess to drain the pus

    • Taking antibiotics

    • If caused by a fungus, using antifungal cream or another antifungal medicine

    Cellulitis

    This is a deep infection of the skin caused by bacteria. It usually affects the arms and legs. Common symptoms include:

    • Redness or swelling of the skin

    • Tenderness

    • Warm skin

    • Pain

    • Bruising

    • Blisters

    • Fever

    • Headache

    • Chills

    • Weakness

    • Red streaks from the original site of the cellulitis

    Treatment may include:

    • Antibiotics (oral, injection, IV)

    • Keeping the area clean and applying dressings as instructed

    • Surgery

    • If your arm or leg is affected, elevating the arm or leg may help

    • Rest

    • Time to heal

    • Pain medicine as needed

    Folliculitis

    An infection or irritation of the hair follicles.

    It looks like little pimples on a base of red, inflamed hair follicles. These bumps may ooze pus. They may also be:

    • Itchy

    • Painful

    • Red

    • Swollen

    Treatment may include:

    • Warm compresses

    • Medicine to put on the skin or take by mouth

    • Good hygiene

    Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome

    This is a serious skin infection. The infection causes peeling skin over large parts of the body. Symptoms can include:

    • Irritability

    • Tiredness

    • Fever

    • Redness of the skin

    • Fluid-filled blisters that break easily and leave an area of moist skin that soon becomes tender and painful

    • Large sheets of the top layer of skin may peel away

    Treatment may include:

    • Antibiotic medicine given by IV (intravenous) line into the vein

    • IV fluids to prevent dehydration

    • Feedings through a tube from the mouth into the stomach (nasogastric feeding), if needed

    • Use of skin creams or ointments and bandages

    • Pain medicines

    The symptoms of bacterial skin infections may look like other skin conditions. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

    Online Medical Reviewer: Michael Lehrer MD
    Online Medical Reviewer: Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN
    Online Medical Reviewer: Tennille Dozier RN BSN RDMS
    Date Last Reviewed: 6/1/2023
    © 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center

    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

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