A number of bacterial infections can affect the human skin. Individuals with bacterial skin infections may develop red, painful lesions or may exhibit no symptoms at all. Common bacterial skin infections include carbuncles, furuncles, cellulitis, erythrasma, folliculitis, impetigo and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.
Carbuncles and Furuncles
Carbuncles and furuncles result from infection of hair follicles. A furuncle---also known as an abscess or boil---forms a tender mass at the infected hair follicle and is often reddish in color. Symptoms of this condition include pus or whitish, bloody discharge from the furuncle. While furuncles can occur on any area of the body, they tend to occur at areas frequently exposed to friction.
Similar to furuncles, carbuncles form broad, deep and swollen clusters of infected hair follicles that are typically reddish in color. Individuals with this condition may also experience fever or fatigue. Antibiotic treatment or drainage of the hair follicle may help resolve either of these conditions.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a painful skin infection that can spread underneath the upper layer of skin. This condition is typically caused by a bacterial infection of a pre-existing wound, but can also occur due to animal or human bites or injuries sustained in water. Typical symptoms of cellulitis include skin swelling, tenderness, bruising or blistering, as well as fever or headache. While cellulitis can occur on any area of the body, this condition most frequently affects the legs. Treatment with penicillin or oral antibiotics will likely be necessary to resolve this condition.
Erythrasma
Erythrasma is a chronic infection affecting the superficial skin folds of the groin, pubis, armpit, breasts or toe web. This condition results in the formation of dry, scaly, irregular patches of skin that may be pink or brown in color. While most individuals with erythrasmic lesions do not exhibit any other notable symptoms, some individuals may find that their skin lesions burn or itch. Treatment of this condition may include topical or oral antibiotics.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a condition in which the hair follicles become inflamed due to injury, irritation or infection. There are two major classifications of folliculitis: superficial and deep. Superficial folliculitis is the most common form of this condition and results in the formation of a tender pustule at the site of infection. Superficial folliculitis can occur on any area of the body that contains hair and can form single or multiple sites of infection, which typically heal without scarring. Deep folliculitis occurs when the infection spreads deep into the follicle, which may cause extensive inflammation. This form of folliculitis often takes longer to heal than the superficial form and is more likely to cause scarring. While folliculitis may resolve on its own, topical antibiotics may be utilized to speed up the healing process.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a contagious skin infection that is more frequent among infants and children. There are three major types of impetigo: impetigo contagiosa, bullous impetigo and ecthyma. Impetigo contagiosa results in the formation of red sores around the nose or mouth, which rupture and may form a yellow-brown crust. These lesions are typically painless, but may be red or itchy. In addition to these symptoms, infants or children with bullous impetigo may develop the characteristic lesions on the body, legs or arms. Ecthyma is the most serious form of impetigo and results in a deep infection within the second layer of the skin. Children with this condition may develop painful pus-filled sores, which may form deep ulcers on the feet or legs. Typical treatments for impetigo include topical or oral antibiotics.
Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS) is a condition that causes the upper layer of the skin to peel off in large sheets. Typical symptoms of SSSS include skin crusting or painful inflammation, blistering, fever, chills or weakness. This condition most frequently occurs on the nose or ears of infants or young children. Treatment with intravenous (IV) penicillin or oral antibiotics will likely be necessary to resolve this condition.
