Articles Posted in Severe Burns and Cellulitis

Predisposing factors:

• Burns (second degree and third degree burns).
• Skin diseases such as boils, eczema and psoriasis.

The skin is the first line of defense against infection, it is composed of three layers, the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue layer (see the skin). Infection is the leading cause of death among hospitalized patients with burns. Normally the surface of the skin contains a mixture of microorganisms called normal skin flora, these flora live on the surface of skin and cause no disease unless the skin is damaged and/or the immune system is compromised. (see wound infection)

Cellulitis is an infection of the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue layer of the skin, cellulitis can be caused by normal skin flora or by exogenous bacteria, where in most cases the skin has previously been broken such as:

• Second degree and third degree burns which lead to blister formation that can open and become infected.