A STUDY ON THE CLINICAL AND SUB-CLINICAL FEATURES OF BACTERIAL SKIN INFECTIONS

Abstract

Background: Bacterial skin infections are common due to the bacteral invasion into the skin and cause a variety of clinical manifestation. In order to assess the characteristics of this group, we conducted this study to evaluate the clinical and main subclinical features. Methods: A total of 95 patients were diagnosed with bacterial skin infections at Dermatology Clinic of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital from June 2015 to May 2016, of which 34 patients had some tests and 19 patients had samples for culture. Results: The age group of 16 - 30 years old was the most popular: 50.5%; High rate of patients came for consultation in winter (49.5%), most patients had no fever. For functional symptoms, pain accounted for the highest proportion: 71.6%. The most common skin lesion was nodule: 38.8%, the lower extremities were the most common position: 38.9%. Furuncle had the highest incidence: 45.3%. For main laboratory tests, most patients had a normal number of leucocyte: 71.4%; ESR increased by two times accounting for a rate of 20.6%; culture results showed Staphylococcus aureus being a highest percentage: 57.9%. Conclusion: Most skin infections localized and were less systemic effect, the most common agent was S. aureus. Keywords: infection, bacteria, skin, fever, S. aureus