Skin and Eye Infections

Vocabulary flashcards covering bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoan, and helminthic infections of the skin and eyes based on lecture notes.

Folliculitis

Infection of a hair follicle caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, leading to red, swollen, pus-filled lesions like pimples, boils, and carbuncles.

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS)

A condition caused by exotoxins from Staphylococcus aureus involving severe peeling of red skin, primarily in infants, often starting around the mouth.

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria.

Impetigo

A highly contagious skin infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (sometimes with Staphylococcus species) involving vesicles, pustules, and crusted lesions on the face and limbs.

Necrotizing fasciitis

Commonly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, this "flesh-eating disease" rapidly destroys fascia and surrounding tissues; treated with emergency surgical debridement and IV antibiotics.

Acne

A skin condition caused by Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) or S. aureus.

Cat scratch disease

An illness caused by Bartonella henselae, with symptoms including fever, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

Pyocyanin

A blue-green pigment produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa that helps in its identification.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

A disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii and transmitted by tick bites, characterized by fever, headache, and a spotted rash on the palms and soles.

Cutaneous anthrax

A skin infection caused by Bacillus anthracis characterized by a painless black eschar; treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics for 60 days.

Gas gangrene

Infection caused by Clostridium perfringens characterized by severe pain, tissue necrosis, foul-smelling gas bubbles, and shock.

Bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)

An eye infection most commonly caused by Haemophilus influenzae, leading to sticky discharge, redness, and inflammation.

Neonatal conjunctivitis

Eye infection in newborns caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis; prevented with silver nitrate or erythromycin at birth.

Trachoma (granular conjunctivitis)

Infection caused by certain serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis; noted as the leading cause of preventable blindness.

Bacterial keratitis

An infection of the cornea caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Smallpox

An infectious disease that has been completely eradicated worldwide.

HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus type 1)

The virus that causes oral herpes (cold sores) and remains latent in the trigeminal nerve ganglia.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)

The virus responsible for causing both chickenpox and shingles.

Shingles

The reactivation of latent Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in sensory nerves.

Postherpetic neuralgia

Persistent nerve pain that occurs after an episode of shingles.

Measles (rubeola)

A viral disease characterized by Koplik spots (white spots on the inner cheek).

Rubella (German measles)

A viral disease caused by the Rubella virus; dangerous during pregnancy as it can cause congenital rubella syndrome and birth defects.

Fifth Disease

A viral infection caused by Parvovirus B19, hallmarked by a "slapped cheek" rash.

Viral conjunctivitis

Eye infection caused by Adenoviruses, differing from bacterial versions by producing watery discharge rather than sticky pus.

Herpes keratitis

An HSV-1 infection of the cornea that can lead to blindness.

Dermatophytes

Fungi that feed on keratin to infect skin, nails, and hair, causing conditions such as ringworm and athlete’s foot.

Cutaneous candidiasis

A fungal skin infection caused by Candida albicans.

Sporotrichosis

Also called ‐rose gardener’s disease,‐ a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii often acquired via puncture wounds from plants or soil.

Leishmaniasis

A protozoan infection caused by the genus Leishmania and transmitted by sand fly bites.

Acanthamoeba keratitis

An eye infection caused by Acanthamoeba species, most frequently affecting contact lens wearers.

Loiasis

A nematode infection caused by Loa loa and transmitted by deer fly bites, often identified by adult worms migrating across the eye.