What does erysipelas look like?
Erysipelas affects the upper layers of the skin. The typical symptom is a painful and shiny light-red swelling of a quite clearly defined area of skin. Red streaks leading from that area may be a sign that the infection has started to spread along the lymph vessels too. In more severe cases, blisters may form as well.
What causes erysipelas in humans?
Erysipelas is an infection of the upper layers of the skin (superficial). The most common cause is group A streptococcal bacteria, especially Streptococcus pyogenes. Erysipelas results in a fiery red rash with raised edges that can easily be distinguished from the skin around it.
Where can erysipelas be found?
Erysipelas predominantly affects the skin of the lower limbs, but when it involves the face, it can have a characteristic butterfly distribution on the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose. The affected skin has a very sharp, raised border. It is bright red, firm and swollen.
How serious is erysipelas?
Erysipelas can be serious but rarely fatal. It has a rapid and favorable response to antibiotics. Local complications are more common than systemic complications. The most common cause is group A streptococci.
How do you stop erysipelas?
The prevention of an episode of erysipelas calls for correct personal hygiene and adequate use of topical antiseptics in case of skin effraction, even when minimal. When erysipelas is established, a rapidly initiated antibiotic treatment for a prolonged period prevents streptococcal gangrene complications.
How would you describe erysipelas?
Erysipelas is a bacterial skin infection involving the upper dermis that characteristically extends into the superficial cutaneous lymphatics. It is a tender, intensely erythematous, indurated plaque with a sharply demarcated border.
How is erysipelas contracted?
Newborns may contract erysipelas due to Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as group B streptococcus or GBS. The infecting bacteria can enter the skin through minor trauma, human, insect or animal bites, surgical incisions, ulcers, burns and abrasions.
Can erysipelas be fatal?
Although generally easily and successfully treated with oral antibiotics, with a mortality rate of less than 1% in treated cases, erysipelas can be fatal when associated with bacteremia in very young, elderly, or immunocompromised patients.
What is the common name of erysipelas?
| Erysipelas | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ignis sacer, holy fire, St. Anthony’s fire |
| Erysipelas of the face due to invasive Streptococcus | |
| Pronunciation | /ɛriˈsɪpələs/ |
| Specialty | Dermatology, Infectious disease |
What antibiotics treat erysipelas?
Penicillin is the standard therapy for typical erysipelas, although coverage for Staphylococcus aureus should be considered in the appropriate setting.
How do you prevent erysipelas?
Can amoxicillin treat erysipelas?
Erysipelas is an acute dermo-hypodermal infection due to streptococcus. To date no resistance of theses bacteria to amoxicillin was described. The diagnosis of erysipelas is clinical….Short Course of Amoxicillin for Erysipelas (SHARE)
| Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Erysipelas | Drug: Amoxicillin | Phase 4 |