Healthy Skin and Skin Infections
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Transcript Healthy Skin and Skin Infections
Healthy Skin and
Skin Infections
Updated February 2015
Objectives of this presentation
This presentation will:
Support health professional knowledge development
Provide an introduction and background into healthy
skin and skin infections
Discuss recent Midland Region skin infections report,
analysis and recommendations
Discuss serious skin infections, causes and
management
Provide key prevention messages and resources
Functions of Skin
Skin is an amazing organ:
It covers and protects
Helps to maintain correct temperature
Provides a sense of touch
Skin also protects against infections
However, the skin may become infected
leading to serious health problems
Serious Skin Infections
Serious skin infections (SSI) are a significant
cause of avoidable hospitalisations in NZ
SSI includes cellulitis, impetigo and abscesses
Can affect the blood, kidneys, bones, joints,
lymph nodes and brain
Midland SSI analysis (2001 -2012)
Preliminary work has demonstrated that
Midland DHBs have very high rates of skin
conditions/infections in comparison to the
rest of NZ
SSIs are a significant component of the
Ambulatory-Sensitive Hospitalisation (ASH)
rates
This represents significant disease burden
and cost for our populations
Midland SSI analysis (2001 -2012)
There are compelling reasons for the focus on
skin conditions in the Midland region
The following graphs illustrate the high levels
of skin infections in the Midland region in
relation to NZ rates
And the significant inequity between Māori
and non-Māori
Inequities
Through the organised efforts of
society…inequities are avoidable and fixable
Incidence of SSI in children aged 0-14yrs in NZ
and the Midland region – by DHB
Incidence of SSI in children aged 0-14 years in
NZ and the Midland region – by DHB – Māori
Incidence of serious skin infection 0-14 years in
NZ – Maori vs non-Maori
Incidence of serious skin infection in Maori
children in the Midland Region
Recommendations
SSI prevention and management be prioritised
in relevant organisational work plans
Intervention should focus on Māori children
aged 0 – 4 years
Prevention and earlier detection, intervention
and treatment should be part of any care
pathway
Resources provided assist organisations to
decrease the incidence of SSIs
Cellulitis
• Cellulitis is an acute bacterial infection of the
soft tissues of the skin. The infection spreads
causing the skin and layers underneath to
become red, swollen and tender
Cellulitis
Causes
Any area of skin can become infected if skin is
broken, dry or cracked e.g. from a sore, insect
bite, boil, rash, cut, burn, graze or eczema
Most common pathogens Staph.aureus,
Strep.pyogenes, Group C and G strep
Management
Cellulitis is a serious infection that needs to be
treated with antibiotics
Keep area elevated
Periorbital / severe cellulitis refer to hospital
Consider swab of moist lesion if high risk of
recurrence or MRSA
Shared Services Conference 1997
Impetigo
• Impetigo (or school sores) is characterised by
small infectious blisters, which later develop a
honey coloured scab like crust
Shared Services Conference 1997
Impetigo
Causes
May be caught from other person with
impetigo or boils or may ‘appear out of the
blue’
Often starts at site of minor injury
Most common pathogens Strep.pyogenes,
Staph.aureus
Management
Consider swab of moist lesion if risk of
recurrence or complicated factors
Localised staph infections may be managed
using wound care and antiseptics for local
application
Routine use of topical antibiotics e.g.
fucidic acid or mupirocin is not advised due
to increasingly resistant forms of staph
Boils / abscess
Boils are a deep infection of the hair
follicles and present as one or more tender
red spots, lumps or pustules
An abscess is a cavity containing pus which
may also have surrounding cellulitis of the
skin and tissue
Staph aureus is common pathogen
Boil and infected scratch
Shared Services Conference 1997
Management
Swab at least one moist lesion
Localised infections can be managed with
wound care (including I&D of large boils &
abscesses)
Routine use of topical antibiotics e.g.
fucidic acid or mupirocin is not advised due
to increasingly resistant forms of staph
Use a/bs if fever, cellulitis or co-morbidity
e.g. eczema
Scabies
Scabies is a skin infestation that can be
passed easily between people
Caused by tiny mites
The mites burrow into the upper layers of the
skin and lay eggs along the way
Small blisters, red spots and itchy red patches
form on the skin above the burrows
Shared Services Conference 1997
Scabies
Causes
Almost always acquired by skin to skin contact
Occasionally acquired by bedding or
furnishing – as mite can survive few days off
human host
Symptoms
Rash small areas of red, itchy bumps and
blisters most often noticed:
Between the fingers
On the wrist
On the elbow
Around the waist
On the bottom and private parts
Symptoms
Itch - the scabies rash is usually intensely itchy
The itch is typically more severe at night,
sometimes making it difficult to sleep
Can lead to secondary infection
Treatment
Scabicides – chemical insecticides used to
treat scabies
In NZ most common are:
5% Permethrin cream
0.5% Aqueous malathion lotion, left for 24
hours
See scabies fact sheet
Shared Services Conference 1997
Treatment and prevention
All people living in the household, and
other close contacts, should be treated at
the same time whether or not they have
symptoms of scabies
On the same day as applying the treatment,
all clothes worn against the skin in the last
3 days must be washed in hot water and
dried
Bedding and towels
Sheets, pillowcases, towels and face-cloths
should also be washed in hot water
It is not necessary to wash blankets, duvets or
quilts, you can just hang them out in the sun
for a day
Key prevention messages
Skin infections are preventable
If left untreated skin infections can lead to
serious health problems
Serious skin infections are a major cause of
avoidable hospitalisations in New Zealand
Healthy skin messages
Wash and dry hands with soap and water
often
Keep skin clean with regular showers
Clean wounds and hands, Cut fingernails and
Cover injuries
Healthy skin messages
Healthy food and adequate sleep is
important for healthy skin
Skin infections often start with an insect
bite – treat animals for fleas regularly
Wear clean clothes
Keep house clean inside and out
Wash sheets and towels regularly
Action messages…
Families / whanau / individuals should be
advised to seek medical attention if a sore or
area of redness has any of the following
features….
Shared Services Conference 1997
Action messages
Is greater than the size of a ten cent coin
(approximately 1.5cm)
Increasing size
Has pus
Has red streaks coming from it
Is not getting better within two days
Is located close to the eye
Further information…
Healthy skin resources are available to download from many different
websites, some suggestions:
http://www.ttophs.govt.nz/healthyskin_resources
http://www.healthliteracy.org.nz/research-and-projects/
www.healthnavigator.org.nz/health-topics/skin-infections/
https://www.starship.org.nz/for-health-professionals/national-childand-youth-clinical-networks/eczema
HealthShare webpage when its sorted!