Bacterial skin infections are fairly common and can range in severity from mild to life-threatening. Most bacterial infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Bacterial skin infections often begin as small, red bumps that slowly increase in size. A bacterial infection can take many different forms depending on its location, type, even the age of the affected individual. In the most serious cases, a bacterial infection can spread to the bloodstream and cause sepsis, which may be life-threatening. Different types of bacterial skin infections include:
Cellulitis is a common and sometimes painful bacterial skin infection. It may first appear as a red, swollen area that feels hot and tender to the touch. The redness and swelling can spread quickly. It most often affects the skin of the lower legs, although the infection can occur anywhere on a person’s body or face. Cellulitis usually happens on the surface of the skin, but it may also affect the tissues underneath. The infection can spread to your lymph nodes and bloodstream. If you don’t treat cellulitis, it could become life threatening.
Erysipelas, which is colloquially known as St. Anthony’s Fire because of the intense, burning sensation that characterizes it, infects the top two layers of the skin. Symptoms include extreme redness, swelling, and a sharply-defined border between the normal and infected skin tissue.
Folliculitis is inflammation or infection that can affect one or more hair follicles. Your hair follicles are the small cavities that surround the roots of your hair. Folliculitis can occur on your skin wherever hair grows, including your scalp. It’s most likely to occur on your thighs, buttocks, neck, and armpits — places where friction is common. It usually appears as small bumps.
Boils (furuncles) are painful pus-filled bumps on the skin resulting from the deep infection of a hair follicle. Many people are “carriers” of the staph germ, meaning that it normally lives on their skin or in their nose without doing them any harm. Tiny breaks in the surface of the skin (such as those caused by friction or scratching), however, can help the germ gain entry into and infect the hair follicle, resulting in a boil.
A carbuncle is a group of boils on the skin. A carbuncle forms when a number of boils group together to form one lump, or when multiple hair follicles become infected at once. When multiple carbuncles form, the condition is known as carbunculosis.
The first sign of impetigo is a patch of red, itchy skin. Pustules develop on this area, soon forming crusty, yellow-brown sores that can spread to cover entire areas of the face, arms, and other body parts. Most patients are children. Because impetigo is caused by a bacterium that is transmitted onto the skin, it is contagious and easily contracted by persons who might touch the affected person.
It is a superficial infection caused by a bacteria known as Corynebacterium minutissimum. It is characterized by the development of a discolored patch, primarily in folds of skin. There are two types: Interdigital erythrasma primarily develops between the toes, while generalized erythrasma is more widespread and commonly seen in people with type 2 diabetes. The rash itself is not considered serious but may serve as an early warning sign of a more serious condition.
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA can be spread during activities that involve touching or skin-to-skin contact, such as in household settings, athletics. One way of getting MRSA is to make direct contact with a wound infected with MRSA. Also, if someone with a wound infected with MRSA wipes the wound with a towel or other item, the bacteria will spread to that item. Anyone who comes into contact with it risks getting MRSA.
Leprosy is a chronic, progressive bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the nerves of the extremities, the skin, the lining of the nose, and the upper respiratory tract. Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease. Leprosy produces skin ulcers, nerve damage, and muscle weakness. If it isn’t treated, it can cause severe disfigurement and significant disability.
This occurs when bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut or a scratch. Getting a cut or scratch doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll develop a skin infection, but it does increase your risk if you have a weakened immune system. A decreased immune system can be the result of an illness or the side effect of medication.
Treatment depends on the cause of the infection and the severity. Bacterial infections are often treated with topical antibiotics applied directly to the skin or with oral antibiotics. If the strain of bacteria is resistant to treatment, treating the infection may require intravenous antibiotics administered in the hospital.