The Difference Between Bacterial Skin Infections and Viral Skin Infections
Most bacteria can grow on surfaces that are nonliving, such as kitchen countertops, doorknobs and drawer handles or towels. Some bacteria is not harmful but helpful. We even have bacteria living on the surface of our skin and in our mouth that does not make us sick.
The Difference Between Bacterial Skin Infections and Viral Skin Infections
The obvious difference between the two skin infections is that bacteria cause a bacterial skin infection and viruses cause the viral skin infections. Other than the obvious there are other more subtle differences.
Most bacteria can grow on surfaces that are nonliving, such as kitchen countertops, doorknobs and drawer handles or towels. Some bacteria is not harmful but helpful. We even have bacteria living on the surface of our skin and in our mouth that does not make us sick.
Not all bacterial infections are contagious.
Viruses are NOT living organisms. They are actually genetic material. They require "hosts" in order to survive. People, plants or animals become these "hosts". Some virus infections are contagious and some are not.
Medications that are affective against viral skin infections may not be affective at all against bacterial skin infections.
Bacterial skin infections are treated with antibacterial antibiotics and viral infections are treated with antiviral antibiotics.
Viruses are tinier than bacteria. The main mission of a virus is to reproduce.
Bacteria are self-sufficient and viruses are not, they need a host to survive.
Bacteria not only reproduce once inside your body, they produce toxins. It is the toxins that make us sick. The toxins can cause damage to skin cells.
Bacteria are self-sufficient which means they do not need a host to survive and reproduce like viruses do. Bacteria can live both outside and inside the human body. Viruses cannot live outside the human body.
Most bacteria are actually harmless and some are beneficial to humans. There is not much good you can say about a virus.
The length of time that you are sick with a virus is usually shorter than with a bacterial infection. The average viral infection lasts 10 days. A typical bacterial infection can last up to two weeks.
Staph Skin InfectionsMost stores have wipes available to clean shared surfaces like shopping cart handles. It only takes a moment to use the wipe and prevent the spread of germs.
Antibiotics For Skin Infections
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Viral infections usually do not produce a fever though some can. Bacterial infections can cause a fever.
Antibiotics will not help a viral skin infection, where antibiotics need to be used as part of the treatment for a bacterial skin infection.
Viral skin infections include: Cold Sores, Herpes Zoster (Shingles), Pityriasis Rosea, Warts, and Molluscum Contagiosum.
Bacterial skin infections include: boils, carbuncles, furuncles, cellulitis, abscesses, impetigo scarlet fever, and erysipelas.
Knowing the difference between a viral skin infection and a bacterial skin infection is important for the doctor to know when designing a treatment plan. Knowing that cold sores and warts are viruses will put your mind at ease knowing that you do not need the expense of an antibiotic because antibiotics do not affect viruses.
You might say that an infection is an infection, but trying to prevent or treat a bacterial skin infection like you would a viral skin infection and you are likely to have a real serious problem on your hands. Correctly diagnosing the infection is key to proper treatment and faster relief. To help your doctor arrive at the correct diagnosis, it is important to give him/her an accurate medical history, and list of symptoms.
Stay informed and stay healthy. Knowledge is a powerful weapon against skin infection.
New Info on Skin Infections
11/19/2008
FDA Advisory Committee Provides Opinion on Oritavancin for the Treatment of Complicated Skin and Skin Structure ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.----Targanta Therapeutics Corporation today announced that oritavancin, the Company’s investigational antibiotic therapy for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus , received a mixed review from the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Anti-Infective Drugs ...
FDA Advisory Committee Provides Opinion on Oritavancin for the Treatment of Complicated Skin and Skin Structure ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
11/18/2008
Surgeons not following all guidelines to lower infection risks: survey (Fort Frances Times)
By editorial Tuesday, 18 November 2008 - 3:59pm. TORONTO—Alberta surgeons aren’t always following guidelines aimed at minimizing the risk patients will develop an infection as a result of their surgery, a new survey reveals.
Surgeons not following all guidelines to lower infection risks: survey (Fort Frances Times)
11/19/2008
Skin cancer vaccine on its way (TVNZ)
Cancer Council Australia (CCA) has welcomed the announcement of a possible vaccine for skin cancer as groundbreaking. Former Australian of the Year Ian Frazer is on the verge of creating the world's first skin cancer vaccine.
Skin cancer vaccine on its way (TVNZ)
11/19/2008
Theravance infection drug OK'd by FDA (Contra Costa Times)
South San Francisco-based Theravance Inc. won a U.S. panels backing to introduce a new drug for hard-to-treat skin infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, which kills almost 19,000 Americans a year.
Theravance infection drug OK'd by FDA (Contra Costa Times)
11/19/2008
Theravance infection drug OK'd by FDA (Contra Costa Times)
South San Francisco-based Theravance Inc. won a U.S. panels backing to introduce a new drug for hard-to-treat skin infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, which kills almost 19,000 Americans a year.
Theravance infection drug OK'd by FDA (Contra Costa Times)
11/19/2008
FDA Advisory Committee Provides Opinion on Oritavancin for the Treatment of Complicated Skin and Skin Structure ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.----Targanta Therapeutics Corporation today announced that oritavancin, the Company’s investigational antibiotic therapy for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus , received a mixed review from the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Anti-Infective Drugs ...
FDA Advisory Committee Provides Opinion on Oritavancin for the Treatment of Complicated Skin and Skin Structure ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
11/17/2008
Holik could've lost finger to infection (The Times of Trenton)
Bobby Holik said Monday he feels fortunate he didn't lose his right pinke to an infection. "They said if it was any worse I could've lost a finger," Holik said. "It was an open wound. Infection was a problem."
Holik could've lost finger to infection (The Times of Trenton)
11/19/2008
FDA panel splits on pair of antibiotics (San Francisco Chronicle)
Federal health advisers on Wednesday backed the benefits of an experimental antibiotic but rebuffed another, questioning whether it would be able to fight dangerous staph infections that are becoming increasingly common. A panel of infection experts assembled...
FDA panel splits on pair of antibiotics (San Francisco Chronicle)
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