BSC 310 Lecture Notes - Lecture 41: Eumycetoma, Scarlet Fever, Rheumatic Fever
Document Summary
Microbial diseases of the skin are usually transmitted by contact with an infected individual. Although the skin normally provides a barrier to infection, when it is penetrated by microorganisms, infection develops. Diseases of the eye are considered with the skin diseases because both occur at the surface of the body. Staphylococcal infections. staphylococci are gram positive cocci occurring in clusters. The best known pathogen in this group is staphylococcus aureus. This organism invades the hair follicles and causes folliculitis, also referred to as pustules. A deeper infection of the skin tissues is referred to as a boil, abscess, or furuncle. A large lesion progressing from a boil is known as a carbuncle. Penicillin or erythromycin antibiotics are used to treat this and other staphylococcal skin diseases. Toxin producing strains of s. aureus cause scalded skin syndrome. Scarlet fever is caused by streptococcus pyogenes, a gram positive bacterium occurring in encapsulated chains.
