Bacterial Skin Infections

• How your skin becomes infected?
• Types, signs and symptoms
• IMPETIGO
• FURUNCLE (BOIL)
• FOLLICULITIS
• Infected wounds
• How is a bacterial skin infection diagnosed?
• How is it treated?
• Reducing your risk of getting or spreading a bacterial skin infection

Commonly found on the skin, even in healthy people, Staphylococcus aureus or S.aureus is the most common bacteria involved in infections of the skin and wounds.^3e

• Mainly affects infants and children⁴
• Frequently occurs on the nose and mouth but also the hands and feet⁴
• Classic signs include red sores that ooze and rupture and then form a yellowish-brown crust.⁴
• Highly contagious, it can spread to other parts of the body and to other children
  through contact with the infected area⁴

• Affects people of all ages⁵
• Commonly found on the face, neck, armpits, buttocks and thighs but can appear anywhere on the body⁵
• Symptoms include a swollen, red lump in the skin (sometimes, a hair will grow in
  it), painful to touch and filled with liquid or pus that may ooze out of a central ‘head’⁵
• The boil itself is not contagious but the pus inside it is, particularly if it is oozing⁵ 

• Occurs anywhere on the skin where there is hair, frequently affecting adult men^6,7
• Commonly found on the neck, in the beard area, breasts, buttocks, back and
  chest.^6,7
• Hair follicle(s) become inflamed and infected and manifests as a tender pustule.^6,7
• While not usually contagious, prevent the spread of bacteria by not sharing razors and other personal items such as towels and washcloths.⁸

• Any wound contaminated with dirt or bacteria can get infected, especially deeper
  scrapes which tend to grind dirt into the skin, and puncture wounds⁸.
• Wound pain that worsens a day or more after the injury often indicates the first sign of infection, and the wound may become red and swollen, ooze pus, and a fever may develop.⁸  While the wound itself is not contagious, to reduce the spread of bacteria to others, keep any cuts clean and covered.⁸

Treatment usually involves antibiotics and drainage of the infected area.¹⁰ Topical antibiotics can play an important role in the prevention and treatment of many bacterial skin infections.³
Topical antibiotic creams and ointments, such as fusidic acid or mupirocin can be prescribed or recommended over-the-counter for bacterial skin infections such as impetigo, infected cuts and grazes, and infected dermatitis. Topical antibiotics work by stopping the growth of the bacteria causing the infection. These topical creams can also be used to prevent wound infections from occurring.³ Sodium fusidate (available as an ointment) is a salt of fusidic acid and it works in the same way.¹¹ Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to recommend the appropriate product to treat your infection.
In most cases, a bacterial skin infection does not cause serious harm. However, if left untreated, and the infection continues to penetrate even deeper it could enter the bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart, and become dangerous.¹⁰