Skin Infections and Antiviral Drugs

Infection – is an invasion by and multiplication of pathogenic microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, in a bodily part or tissue of a host organism which may produce subsequent tissue injury and progress to overt disease through a variety of cellular or toxic mechanisms. The infecting organism, or pathogen, interferes with the normal functioning and perhaps the survival of the host organism.

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Skin infections are common. Breaks in the skin integrity, particularly those that let in infectious agents(pathogens) like bacteria and fungi, frequently cause or aggravate skin infections. All skin infections can be divided into 3 classes by a disease-causing agent:

• bacterial,
• viral or
• fungal

The difference between an infection and colonization by microorganisms is often only a matter of circumstance. Organisms which are normally non-pathogenic and live on the surface of healthy skin can become pathogenic under the right conditions, and even the most infectious organism requires certain circumstances to cause a compromising infection. As an example, the staphylococcus species present on skin remain harmless on the skin, but, when present in a normally sterile space, such as in the capsule of a joint or the peritoneum, will multiply without resistance. The variables involved in the outcome of a host becoming inoculated by a pathogen and the ultimate outcome include:

1. the route of entry of the pathogen and the access to host regions that it gains
2. the intrinsic capacity of a microorganism to cause disease (virulence) of the particular organism
3. the quantity or load of the initial substance introduced into the organism (inoculant)
4. the immune status of the host being colonized

Any one who has a break in the skin is at risk for infection. However, certain conditions or diseases can put a person at greater risk for infection, including: diabetes (which causes poor blood flow to the skin), AIDS (because of a depressed immune system that is unable to fight the infection), skin damaged by sunburn or scratching.

Many invading organisms produce substances that cause allergic sensitivity in the host; the immune response to virus infection has been implicated in some diseases. Infections may be spread via respiratory droplets, direct contact, contaminated food, or vectors, such as insects. They can also be transmitted sexually (see sexually transmitted diseases) and from mother to fetus. Immunity is the term used to describe the capacity of the host to respond to infection. Drugs that help fight infections include antibiotics and antiviral drugs.