Staphylococcal folliculitis

A topical antibiotic or antifungal may be used to control the spread of infection but generally is unnecessary. For staphylococcal or streptococcal folliculitis, antibiotic ointments such as mupirocin might be administered three times daily. Antifungal shampoo can be used for dermatophytes. 

Staphylococcus bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infection. There are many kinds of staphylococcal skin infections. The least serious is folliculitis, an infection of a hair root that produces a slightly painful pimple at the base of a hair. Most of these infections are minor (pimples and boils) however. Staphylococcus bacteria may also cause serious infections. Impetigo causes shallow, fluid-filled blisters and may itch or hurt. Staphylococcus skin abscesses are warm, painful, collections of pus below the skin surface and staphylococcus cellulitis is a spreading infection that develops under the skin producing pain and redness. More serious skin infections include toxic epidermal necrolysis and scalded skin syndrome in newborns. 

Deeper bacterial infections of the skin include folliculitis, erysipelas, cellulitis, and necrotizing fasciitis. Since streptococcal and staphylococcal species also are the most common causes of deep cutaneous infections, penicilUns (especially ji-lactarruise-resistant ji-lactams), and cephalosporins are the systemic antibiotics used most frequently in their treatment (see Chapter 44). A growing concern is the increased incidence of skin and soft tissue infections with hospital- and community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and drug-resistant pneumococci. Infection with community-acquired MRSA often is susceptible to trimethoprim—sulfamethoxazole. 

Workers in contact with industrial mineral oils, e.g. in the metallurgic industry, can develop lesions of folliculitis due to Staphylococcus spp. (Fig. 5). Bacteria that may contaminate used oil are not responsible for the infection. In fact, occlusion of hair follicles by cutting, lubrication and cooling mineral oils may lead to a secondary infection by staphylococci present on the skin of patients. Industrial staphylococcal foUiculi-... 

Folliculitis is most commonly caused by S. aureus. Occlusion by clothing or protective equipment predisposes to its development on the chest, back, arms, and legs. As with impetigo and furunclosis, staphylococcal nasal carriers are prone to recurrences. 

---