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Advice for Bacterial Skin Infection

Bacterial Skin Infections

Bacterial skin infections occur when bacteria enter the skin, often through breaks or cracks, leading to inflammation and potential complications. Common bacteria causing these infections include Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, including redness, swelling, pain, and pus. Treatment typically involves antibiotics, and prompt medical attention is crucial to prevent serious complications like sepsis.

Bacterial skin infections are a common reason for emergency visits. Children under five years and adults over 65 years old are affected more often than other age groups. In 2005, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported a high prevalence of skin disease in children from developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Certain comorbid conditions increase susceptibility to bacterial skin infections, such as diabetes, vascular insufficiency, and being immunocompromised (e.g., chemotherapy patients with neutropenia). Some people, such as those who inject drugs, are at increased risk. Among hospitalized patients, skin infections are prevalent and often complicate the hospital course.

The symptoms of a skin infection will depend on:

-the type of infection

-the cause

-individual factors, such as whether the person has a weakened immune system

Common symptoms of skin infections include:

-redness on pale skin, or purple or darker areas of skin if you have a darker skin tone

-lesions that may be flat or raised, bumpy, or wart-like

-itching

-pain and tenderness

-skin that may be warm to the touch

In some cases, a person may also have other symptoms, such as a fever.

Signs of a severe infection include:

-pus

-blisters

-skin sloughing, breakdown

-dark areas that can indicate necrosis or tissue death

-pain and discoloration

-widespread swelling


Bacterial skin infections occur when bacteria enter the skin, either from an outside source or because they are present on the skin. They can enter the skin through a hair follicle or after a wound.

Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are bacteria that are commonly present on the skin and only cause a problem in certain circumstances. Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial infection that can cause skin symptoms along with many other symptoms.

Bacterial infections can be systemic or local. Systemic infections can cause symptoms throughout the whole body, such as a fever, while local infections only affect a specific area.

Some bacterial infections can begin in one area and spread throughout the body.

Some bacterial skin infections, such as impetigo, can spread between people through direct skin contact or with bodily fluids, contaminated food or water, or by touching surfaces where bacteria are present.

Others, such as cellulitis, are not contagious.

Different types of bacterial skin infections include:

- cellulitis
- impetigo
- boils
- Hansen’s disease (leprosy)

Systemic infections that can cause skin rashes include:

-syphilis
-tuberculosis
-leptospirosis

Some bacterial infections are mild and easy to treat with topical antibiotics, but other infections require an oral antibiotic or other medical treatment.

Minor bacterial infections often resolve without treatment. Due to increasing antibiotic resistance, first-line use of topical antibiotics, such as fusidic acid, is generally discouraged; topical antiseptics are often used as an alternative for minor infections.
Treatment depends on the cause of the infection and the severity. Some infections will go away on their own or respond to over-the-counter creams.

If an infection is severe, the person is at risk of complications, or the infection is contagious, a doctor may prescribe medication such as:

antibiotics
antivirals
antifungals
antiparasitics

The form of the medication will partially depend on the severity of the infection or the risk of complications. A person with a severe infection may need to spend time in the hospital.

Home care and alternative treatments

Home care for a skin infection works to reduce symptoms.

Here are some tips:

Apply cold compresses to your skin several times a day to reduce itching and inflammation.
Take over-the-counter antihistamines to decrease itching.
Use topical creams and ointment to reduce itching and discomfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

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