ABSTRACT
Normal skin has a resident flora of micro-organisms, including bacteria, yeasts and mites, collectively termed commensals. These are found on the surface and deep in the pores and ducts of sweat and sebaceous glands. As commensals of healthy intact skin, staphylococci and streptococci are common causes of skin infections such as boils, pustules, carbuncles and postoperative wound infections. It is possible for the same organism to cause different infections in different layers of the skin and soft tissue. Impetigo is the most common, highly contagious skin infection affecting children. Infection is superficial, remaining in the outer layers of the epidermis. Pitted keratolyis is a superficial bacterial skin infection that produces crateriform pitting and depressed discoloured areas, particularly on the pressure-bearing aspects of the feet. Arthrospores are the reproductive cells produced by dermatophyte hyphae, which adhere to keratinocytes, germinate and invade, eventually being shed from the body surface in skin scales and hair, thus spreading infection.
